Glf-4 crew had an altitude overshoot in kazakhstan class a airspace.

Attributes
ACN	568892
Time
Date	200212
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : uacc.airport
State Reference	FO
Altitude	msl single value : 34000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Gulfstream IV
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : corporate
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 50 flight time total : 20000 flight time type : 400
ASRS Report	568892
Person 2
Affiliation	company : corporate
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance non adherence : published procedure non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued alert flight crew : returned to assigned altitude none taken : detected after the fact
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Airspace Structure
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Climbing out from astana, kazakhstan, the PNF set the wrong altitude in the altitude preselect. He mistakenly misconverted our metric flight level assignment into the wrong 'ft' flight level assignment. On climb out, I questioned him about the altitude and accepted his incorrect interpretation. Thinking about it, I reviewed the conversion gauge myself and determined his error. Just as I was correcting our altitude, kazakhstan ATC called and questioned our altitude assignment. I'm not sure what exactly our deviation was, but probably less than 1000 ft. I descended to the assigned altitude with no further problems. I recommend that all countries adopt standard altitude assignments. Let's use ft. It's almost always confusing for international flight crew's to use both ft and meters. I also recommend standard transition altitudes/levels to be used worldwide. Air crew fatigue was also a huge factor. Insufficient rest and several very long days contributed to our mistake.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: GLF-4 CREW HAD AN ALT OVERSHOOT IN KAZAKHSTAN CLASS A AIRSPACE.

Narrative: CLBING OUT FROM ASTANA, KAZAKHSTAN, THE PNF SET THE WRONG ALT IN THE ALT PRESELECT. HE MISTAKENLY MISCONVERTED OUR METRIC FLT LEVEL ASSIGNMENT INTO THE WRONG 'FT' FLT LEVEL ASSIGNMENT. ON CLBOUT, I QUESTIONED HIM ABOUT THE ALT AND ACCEPTED HIS INCORRECT INTERP. THINKING ABOUT IT, I REVIEWED THE CONVERSION GAUGE MYSELF AND DETERMINED HIS ERROR. JUST AS I WAS CORRECTING OUR ALT, KAZAKHSTAN ATC CALLED AND QUESTIONED OUR ALT ASSIGNMENT. I'M NOT SURE WHAT EXACTLY OUR DEV WAS, BUT PROBABLY LESS THAN 1000 FT. I DSNDED TO THE ASSIGNED ALT WITH NO FURTHER PROBS. I RECOMMEND THAT ALL COUNTRIES ADOPT STANDARD ALT ASSIGNMENTS. LET'S USE FT. IT'S ALMOST ALWAYS CONFUSING FOR INTL FLC'S TO USE BOTH FT AND METERS. I ALSO RECOMMEND STANDARD TRANSITION ALTS/LEVELS TO BE USED WORLDWIDE. AIR CREW FATIGUE WAS ALSO A HUGE FACTOR. INSUFFICIENT REST AND SEVERAL VERY LONG DAYS CONTRIBUTED TO OUR MISTAKE.

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.