IFR C182 climbs above assigned altitude in tpa airspace.

Attributes
ACN	597981
Time
Date	200310
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : lal.vortac
State Reference	FL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 8000 msl bound upper : 9000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : tpa.tracon
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Skylane 182/RG Turbo Skylane/RG
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	other vortac
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 30 flight time total : 8700 flight time type : 500
ASRS Report	597981
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : departure
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued advisory flight crew : overcame equipment problem flight crew : returned to assigned altitude
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Aircraft
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

On climb out from lakeland airport, I was initially assigned 2000 ft and then cleared to climb to 8000 ft. I leveled at 9000 ft because I had previously set the altitude alert to 9000 ft and thought that was my clearance. ATC asked my altitude and I reported that I was level 9000 ft and they told me I was only cleared to 8000 ft. The error occurred because 1) I had flight planned for 9000 ft and set the altitude alert for the flight planned altitude, 2) I did not write down the clearance to 8000 ft and heard 9000 ft because that is what I planned, 3) I was distraction by an autoplt problem and was less diligent about altitude because the WX was good, and most important, 4) I failed to ask departure to confirm the altitude even though I had an uneasy feeling about the altitude assigned.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: IFR C182 CLBS ABOVE ASSIGNED ALT IN TPA AIRSPACE.

Narrative: ON CLBOUT FROM LAKELAND ARPT, I WAS INITIALLY ASSIGNED 2000 FT AND THEN CLRED TO CLB TO 8000 FT. I LEVELED AT 9000 FT BECAUSE I HAD PREVIOUSLY SET THE ALT ALERT TO 9000 FT AND THOUGHT THAT WAS MY CLRNC. ATC ASKED MY ALT AND I RPTED THAT I WAS LEVEL 9000 FT AND THEY TOLD ME I WAS ONLY CLRED TO 8000 FT. THE ERROR OCCURRED BECAUSE 1) I HAD FLT PLANNED FOR 9000 FT AND SET THE ALT ALERT FOR THE FLT PLANNED ALT, 2) I DID NOT WRITE DOWN THE CLRNC TO 8000 FT AND HEARD 9000 FT BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT I PLANNED, 3) I WAS DISTR BY AN AUTOPLT PROB AND WAS LESS DILIGENT ABOUT ALT BECAUSE THE WX WAS GOOD, AND MOST IMPORTANT, 4) I FAILED TO ASK DEP TO CONFIRM THE ALT EVEN THOUGH I HAD AN UNEASY FEELING ABOUT THE ALT ASSIGNED.

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.