Captain of a beech turboprop climbed to a higher cruise altitude assigned by departure control for avoiding icing condition and was subsequently advised by ARTCC controller that the actual assigned altitude was a lower altitude.

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Attributes
ACN	461810
Time
Date	200002
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : tri.airport
State Reference	TN
Altitude	msl bound lower : 10000 msl bound upper : 11000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : ztl.artcc tracon : tri.tracon tracon : i90.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Beechcraft Twin Turboprop Jet Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 119
Flight Phase	cruise : enroute altitude change cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 260 flight time total : 3400 flight time type : 600
ASRS Report	461810
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot inflight encounter : weather non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	atc equipment other atc equipment : radar other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued alert none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew Other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

Cruise at 9000 ft MSL. Cloud tops were difficult to determine. Requested 11000 ft MSL to remain on top and out of icing conditions. I believe controller cleared us directly to 11000 ft MSL. This seemed odd since his airspace stops at 10000 ft MSL, but I read back 11000 ft MSL without protest. Started climb to 11000 ft MSL. ZTL: at 10200 ft we were switched to ZTL. Reported leaving 10500 ft for 11000 ft. No response. Reported level at 11000 ft. Controller asked if I'd been cleared to 11000 ft and I replied 'affirmative.' controller reported back in 2 mins that I'd been cleared to 10000 ft MSL, but said to stay at 11000 ft. Controller advised me that there was no problem and that there was no one else at that altitude, but advised me of the error. Controller was cordial for the remaining time in, and leaving her sector. There doesn't appear to be any problem (infraction) here. My copilot confirms hearing 11000 ft MSL. The ZTL controller indicated not to worry about it. In the future I'll clarify clrncs that seem out of place with greater diligence.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CAPT OF A BEECH TURBOPROP CLBED TO A HIGHER CRUISE ALT ASSIGNED BY DEP CTL FOR AVOIDING ICING CONDITION AND WAS SUBSEQUENTLY ADVISED BY ARTCC CTLR THAT THE ACTUAL ASSIGNED ALT WAS A LOWER ALT.

Narrative: CRUISE AT 9000 FT MSL. CLOUD TOPS WERE DIFFICULT TO DETERMINE. REQUESTED 11000 FT MSL TO REMAIN ON TOP AND OUT OF ICING CONDITIONS. I BELIEVE CTLR CLRED US DIRECTLY TO 11000 FT MSL. THIS SEEMED ODD SINCE HIS AIRSPACE STOPS AT 10000 FT MSL, BUT I READ BACK 11000 FT MSL WITHOUT PROTEST. STARTED CLB TO 11000 FT MSL. ZTL: AT 10200 FT WE WERE SWITCHED TO ZTL. RPTED LEAVING 10500 FT FOR 11000 FT. NO RESPONSE. RPTED LEVEL AT 11000 FT. CTLR ASKED IF I'D BEEN CLRED TO 11000 FT AND I REPLIED 'AFFIRMATIVE.' CTLR RPTED BACK IN 2 MINS THAT I'D BEEN CLRED TO 10000 FT MSL, BUT SAID TO STAY AT 11000 FT. CTLR ADVISED ME THAT THERE WAS NO PROB AND THAT THERE WAS NO ONE ELSE AT THAT ALT, BUT ADVISED ME OF THE ERROR. CTLR WAS CORDIAL FOR THE REMAINING TIME IN, AND LEAVING HER SECTOR. THERE DOESN'T APPEAR TO BE ANY PROB (INFRACTION) HERE. MY COPLT CONFIRMS HEARING 11000 FT MSL. THE ZTL CTLR INDICATED NOT TO WORRY ABOUT IT. IN THE FUTURE I'LL CLARIFY CLRNCS THAT SEEM OUT OF PLACE WITH GREATER DILIGENCE.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.