Flight crew of an astra 1125 climbed through assigned altitude due clearance misunderstanding.

Attributes
ACN	472050
Time
Date	200005
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : hvq.vor
State Reference	WV
Altitude	msl bound lower : 33000 msl bound upper : 35000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc.artcc
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	IAI1125 (Astra)
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	other vortac
Flight Phase	cruise : enroute altitude change
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : corporate
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : atp
Experience	flight time total : 16980
ASRS Report	472050
Person 2
Affiliation	company : corporate
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	atc equipment other atc equipment : radar other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued alert flight crew : returned to assigned altitude
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

We were on vectors by ZDC. We were at FL310. My copilot was flying and we were told to climb to FL350. We started our climb to FL350 and upon reaching what our altitude was, we said we were at FL350. He said (controller) to descend immediately -- that we were cleared only to FL330. We started our descent and leveled at FL330. Both copilot and I were certain that we had been cleared to climb to FL350 instead of FL330. When we were told to climb, I know I read back to the controller out of FL310 to FL350. In the future we are going to ask for repeat of instruction.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLC OF AN ASTRA 1125 CLBED THROUGH ASSIGNED ALT DUE CLRNC MISUNDERSTANDING.

Narrative: WE WERE ON VECTORS BY ZDC. WE WERE AT FL310. MY COPLT WAS FLYING AND WE WERE TOLD TO CLB TO FL350. WE STARTED OUR CLB TO FL350 AND UPON REACHING WHAT OUR ALT WAS, WE SAID WE WERE AT FL350. HE SAID (CTLR) TO DSND IMMEDIATELY -- THAT WE WERE CLRED ONLY TO FL330. WE STARTED OUR DSCNT AND LEVELED AT FL330. BOTH COPLT AND I WERE CERTAIN THAT WE HAD BEEN CLRED TO CLB TO FL350 INSTEAD OF FL330. WHEN WE WERE TOLD TO CLB, I KNOW I READ BACK TO THE CTLR OUT OF FL310 TO FL350. IN THE FUTURE WE ARE GOING TO ASK FOR REPEAT OF INSTRUCTION.

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.