Narrative:

Other pilot set altitude as 5000 ft for climb. We had waited 2.5 hours for takeoff because of bad WX in new york area. Much of the time was in aircraft, on ramp, with passenger. On climb out, as we passed 3800 ft MSL, departure asked our altitude clearance. We said 5000 ft. She said it should have been 3000 ft and cleared us to 5000 ft. During the confusion and changes on the ramp, we misinterped the 3000 ft as a 5000 ft clearance.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CAPT RPTED MISHEARING THE CLRNC ALT DURING DEP FROM IAD.

Narrative: OTHER PLT SET ALT AS 5000 FT FOR CLB. WE HAD WAITED 2.5 HRS FOR TKOF BECAUSE OF BAD WX IN NEW YORK AREA. MUCH OF THE TIME WAS IN ACFT, ON RAMP, WITH PAX. ON CLBOUT, AS WE PASSED 3800 FT MSL, DEP ASKED OUR ALT CLRNC. WE SAID 5000 FT. SHE SAID IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN 3000 FT AND CLRED US TO 5000 FT. DURING THE CONFUSION AND CHANGES ON THE RAMP, WE MISINTERPED THE 3000 FT AS A 5000 FT CLRNC.

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.