Uncoordinated climb given to air carrier into ARTCC airspace. Operational deviation.

Attributes
ACN	85132
Time
Date	198804
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : rdu
State Reference	NC
Altitude	msl bound lower : 13000 msl bound upper : 16000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc tracon : rdu
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 14000 flight time type : 6000
ASRS Report	85132
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : flight engineer pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 160 flight time total : 10000 flight time type : 160
ASRS Report	85068
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance other
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Deviation Inter Facility Coordination Failure

Narrative:

Rdu departure control cleared us to 5000' after takeoff. After maintaining 5000' for a couple O mins we were reclred to 16000'. We were then told to contact dca center. At this time we were out of approximately 12000'. Dca center called us to turn right to 320 degrees. They then asked us our altitude. We were out of 15000' and were told by them our altitude clearance as given by departure was 13000'. We were then told to maintain 16000'. I questioned the center as to our original altitude clearance and he assured me it was 13000'. I switched frequency with the other radio and asked rdu departure as to our clearance from him. He then told me that our clearance from him was 16000'. The only other discussion with dca center was by me inquiring as to whether or not there was a problem with the alleged altitude deviation and then asking for their phone number. At no time did we hear or acknowledge a clearance to 13000'.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: UNCOORDINATED CLIMB GIVEN TO ACR INTO ARTCC AIRSPACE. OPERATIONAL DEVIATION.

Narrative: RDU DEP CTL CLRED US TO 5000' AFTER TKOF. AFTER MAINTAINING 5000' FOR A COUPLE O MINS WE WERE RECLRED TO 16000'. WE WERE THEN TOLD TO CONTACT DCA CENTER. AT THIS TIME WE WERE OUT OF APPROX 12000'. DCA CENTER CALLED US TO TURN RIGHT TO 320 DEGS. THEY THEN ASKED US OUR ALT. WE WERE OUT OF 15000' AND WERE TOLD BY THEM OUR ALT CLRNC AS GIVEN BY DEP WAS 13000'. WE WERE THEN TOLD TO MAINTAIN 16000'. I QUESTIONED THE CENTER AS TO OUR ORIGINAL ALT CLRNC AND HE ASSURED ME IT WAS 13000'. I SWITCHED FREQ WITH THE OTHER RADIO AND ASKED RDU DEP AS TO OUR CLRNC FROM HIM. HE THEN TOLD ME THAT OUR CLRNC FROM HIM WAS 16000'. THE ONLY OTHER DISCUSSION WITH DCA CENTER WAS BY ME INQUIRING AS TO WHETHER OR NOT THERE WAS A PROB WITH THE ALLEGED ALT DEVIATION AND THEN ASKING FOR THEIR PHONE NUMBER. AT NO TIME DID WE HEAR OR ACKNOWLEDGE A CLRNC TO 13000'.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 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.