MD80 crew had altitude overshoot in ZAU class a airspace.

Attributes
ACN	486711
Time
Date	200009
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	intersection : gordo
State Reference	IL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 26000 msl bound upper : 29000
Environment
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zau.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-80 Super 80
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise : enroute altitude change
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
ASRS Report	486711
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
ASRS Report	486710
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : published procedure non adherence : clearance non adherence : company policies other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance controller : issued alert none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Altitude deviation. While I was making a PA, center gave us a climb from FL260 to FL310. After climb was started, we changed center frequency to another sector. Controller told first officer to stop at FL280. He read back expedite through FL280. Passing FL290, controller said to level at FL290. I asked if there was a traffic conflict. He replied no, there were no conflicts and apologized for the miscom.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MD80 CREW HAD ALT OVERSHOOT IN ZAU CLASS A AIRSPACE.

Narrative: ALTDEV. WHILE I WAS MAKING A PA, CTR GAVE US A CLB FROM FL260 TO FL310. AFTER CLB WAS STARTED, WE CHANGED CTR FREQ TO ANOTHER SECTOR. CTLR TOLD FO TO STOP AT FL280. HE READ BACK EXPEDITE THROUGH FL280. PASSING FL290, CTLR SAID TO LEVEL AT FL290. I ASKED IF THERE WAS A TFC CONFLICT. HE REPLIED NO, THERE WERE NO CONFLICTS AND APOLOGIZED FOR THE MISCOM.

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.