Narrative:

I was on a direct VFR flight to 60R heading 190 degrees at 12;500 ft and using code established by ATC and cleared VFR during the flight we had to deviate from our direct route to maintain VFR due to deteriorating weather. We asked and were authorized to climb several different times to avoid dangerous IMC conditions. We asked several times to increase our altitude in order to get over and around the dangerous weather. We were cleared several times to the west and back to the east to go around and over large IMC clouds. I continually kept in contact with ATC to make sure it was ok to go higher to clear cloud tops to stay VFR our final height authorized was no higher than 21;000 ft but we went no higher that 20;500 ft and then ATC asked if we could accept a IFR clearance and we said no; so he stated at that point he would need me to go no higher than 21;000 ft and I had 3 minutes to get over the clouds to not create a conflict I said I needed less than that and was able to get over the cloud bank and immediately descend back to our normal altitude. Approximately 20 minutes later I received a call from ft. Worth center asking me to contact them at a number when I landed. They stated I had violated class a airspace; and I said I had been cleared by ATC and it was recorded I was sure. They stated they would be in contact with me at a later date. I felt like I had asked several times if I needed to deviate and they said they concurred with me that I would be able to get around the IMC conditions and be all clear; so I feel like I was authorized to be at the altitude I was at because I was cleared to the altitude I was at. I had an opportunity to go back but let myself be lulled into a feeling of safety and no rule violation because of the very nice and cordial and helpful controller on the other end of the radio. Then all of the sudden I get this phone call saying I did something wrong.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: VFR aircraft with ZFW entered Class A airspace confused by the Controller's response to a request for weather deviations.

Narrative: I was on a direct VFR flight to 60R heading 190 degrees at 12;500 FT and using code established by ATC and cleared VFR during the flight we had to deviate from our direct route to maintain VFR due to deteriorating weather. We asked and were authorized to climb several different times to avoid dangerous IMC conditions. We asked several times to increase our altitude in order to get over and around the dangerous weather. We were cleared several times to the west and back to the east to go around and over large IMC clouds. I continually kept in contact with ATC to make sure it was OK to go higher to clear cloud tops to stay VFR our final height authorized was no higher than 21;000 FT but we went no higher that 20;500 FT and then ATC asked if we could accept a IFR clearance and we said no; so he stated at that point he would need me to go no higher than 21;000 FT and I had 3 minutes to get over the clouds to not create a conflict I said I needed less than that and was able to get over the cloud bank and immediately descend back to our normal altitude. Approximately 20 minutes later I received a call from Ft. Worth Center asking me to contact them at a number when I landed. They stated I had violated Class A airspace; and I said I had been cleared by ATC and it was recorded I was sure. They stated they would be in contact with me at a later date. I felt like I had asked several times if I needed to deviate and they said they concurred with me that I would be able to get around the IMC conditions and be all clear; so I feel like I was authorized to be at the altitude I was at because I was cleared to the altitude I was at. I had an opportunity to go back but let myself be lulled into a feeling of safety and no rule violation because of the VERY nice and cordial and helpful Controller on the other end of the radio. Then all of the sudden I get this phone call saying I did something wrong.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.