Narrative:

On VFR climb to pick up IFR clearance that was previously filed. WX clear; 50 mi with no ceiling; climbing above 12000 ft peaks. I did not set my asel to 16500 ft like I had previously told myself to do. While picking up IFR clearance from center and programming the (expletive) box; I continued to climb to through FL200 before I realized I was not cleared above a VFR altitude. The controller said nothing in regards to this issue; and gave me a squawk and a clearance to FL220 and cleared on course. No conflicts were mentioned by center and I saw none. I am new to the aircraft and to single pilot procedures; so I am doing things I have never done; in the way of errors; since I was a beginning student pilot. Another learning experience which I will use to perfect my single pilot skills. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: the reporter stated that all of his flying experience to this point has been military and air carrier in 2 or 3 pilot aircraft. Flying single pilot in jet aircraft is a new experience and has shown him the hazards of flying single pilot in a high workload environment. The controller in this event did not have any additional comments about the aircraft entering class a airspace while the flight's clearance was being prepared.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A SINGLE PILOTED C525 PILOT CLBED TO FL 200 IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN WHILE PICKING UP AN IFR CLRNC AND PROGRAMMING THE FMC.

Narrative: ON VFR CLB TO PICK UP IFR CLRNC THAT WAS PREVIOUSLY FILED. WX CLR; 50 MI WITH NO CEILING; CLBING ABOVE 12000 FT PEAKS. I DID NOT SET MY ASEL TO 16500 FT LIKE I HAD PREVIOUSLY TOLD MYSELF TO DO. WHILE PICKING UP IFR CLRNC FROM CTR AND PROGRAMMING THE (EXPLETIVE) BOX; I CONTINUED TO CLB TO THROUGH FL200 BEFORE I REALIZED I WAS NOT CLRED ABOVE A VFR ALT. THE CTLR SAID NOTHING IN REGARDS TO THIS ISSUE; AND GAVE ME A SQUAWK AND A CLRNC TO FL220 AND CLRED ON COURSE. NO CONFLICTS WERE MENTIONED BY CTR AND I SAW NONE. I AM NEW TO THE ACFT AND TO SINGLE PLT PROCS; SO I AM DOING THINGS I HAVE NEVER DONE; IN THE WAY OF ERRORS; SINCE I WAS A BEGINNING STUDENT PLT. ANOTHER LEARNING EXPERIENCE WHICH I WILL USE TO PERFECT MY SINGLE PLT SKILLS. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE REPORTER STATED THAT ALL OF HIS FLYING EXPERIENCE TO THIS POINT HAS BEEN MILITARY AND ACR IN 2 OR 3 PILOT ACFT. FLYING SINGLE PILOT IN JET ACFT IS A NEW EXPERIENCE AND HAS SHOWN HIM THE HAZARDS OF FLYING SINGLE PILOT IN A HIGH WORKLOAD ENVIRONMENT. THE CONTROLLER IN THIS EVENT DID NOT HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS ABOUT THE ACFT ENTERING CLASS A AIRSPACE WHILE THE FLT'S CLEARANCE WAS BEING PREPARED.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of May 2009 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.