Heading and altitude deviation.

Attributes
ACN	98346
Time
Date	198811
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : pmd
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 24000 msl bound upper : 25000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zla
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Light Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turboprop Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time total : 3200
ASRS Report	98346
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

ATC cleared to 'turn left heading 250.' I thought we were to climb and maintain 250 (we were at 240). I can't remember exactly what I read back but I think I said 'light transport up to 250.' center showed me 800' too high and I replied level at 250. That's when I realized my mistake. I was told it was to fly heading 250 and to descend back to 240. Turn left heading 250 sounded like climb and maintain 250. Had I been in my previous aircraft type which was restr to 12000' I don't think there would have been a problem.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: HEADING AND ALT DEVIATION.

Narrative: ATC CLRED TO 'TURN L HDG 250.' I THOUGHT WE WERE TO CLB AND MAINTAIN 250 (WE WERE AT 240). I CAN'T REMEMBER EXACTLY WHAT I READ BACK BUT I THINK I SAID 'LTT UP TO 250.' CENTER SHOWED ME 800' TOO HIGH AND I REPLIED LEVEL AT 250. THAT'S WHEN I REALIZED MY MISTAKE. I WAS TOLD IT WAS TO FLY HDG 250 AND TO DSND BACK TO 240. TURN L HDG 250 SOUNDED LIKE CLB AND MAINTAIN 250. HAD I BEEN IN MY PREVIOUS ACFT TYPE WHICH WAS RESTR TO 12000' I DON'T THINK THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A PROB.

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.