Cpr light transport overshot climb to 3000' on mdw 3 SID due to confusing clearance.

Attributes
ACN	98804
Time
Date	198811
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : mdw
State Reference	IL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3000 msl bound upper : 5000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : ord
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Light Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	departure sid : sid
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : cfi pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 11500 flight time type : 600
ASRS Report	98804
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Ambiguous
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

While on the ground at mdw my copilot received our departure clearance from clearance delivery which read, 'cleared to valparaiso airport, mdw #3 departure, radar vector south bend direct valparaiso...expect 5000, departure frequency XXXX, squawk XXXX.' the SID for the mdw 3 required the altitude of 3000' by maintained. However, since we received 5000' after the SID we believed our altitude to climb to was 5000' MSL. During the initial climb the copilot reported, 'departure control, light transport X leaving 2700, climbing to 5000'.' approach controller said, 'roger.' upon reaching 3500', departure control informed us we went through the altitude of 3000', 'maintain 4000 and execute a hard right turn to heading 090.' this we complied with and IFR sep was maintained. Mon morning my copilot contacted chicago ATC and relayed the occurrence to the operations office. He informed my copilot that the clearance we received was given in error and that the altitude in the SID should have been given along with expect 5000' 10 mins later. In essence, it should have read, 'maintain 3000, expect 5000 10 mins later.' the operations officer informed my copilot that he would initiate corrective action at their end.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CPR LTT OVERSHOT CLIMB TO 3000' ON MDW 3 SID DUE TO CONFUSING CLRNC.

Narrative: WHILE ON THE GND AT MDW MY COPLT RECEIVED OUR DEP CLRNC FROM CLRNC DELIVERY WHICH READ, 'CLRED TO VALPARAISO ARPT, MDW #3 DEP, RADAR VECTOR SOUTH BEND DIRECT VALPARAISO...EXPECT 5000, DEP FREQ XXXX, SQUAWK XXXX.' THE SID FOR THE MDW 3 REQUIRED THE ALT OF 3000' BY MAINTAINED. HOWEVER, SINCE WE RECEIVED 5000' AFTER THE SID WE BELIEVED OUR ALT TO CLB TO WAS 5000' MSL. DURING THE INITIAL CLB THE COPLT RPTED, 'DEP CTL, LTT X LEAVING 2700, CLBING TO 5000'.' APCH CTLR SAID, 'ROGER.' UPON REACHING 3500', DEP CTL INFORMED US WE WENT THROUGH THE ALT OF 3000', 'MAINTAIN 4000 AND EXECUTE A HARD RIGHT TURN TO HDG 090.' THIS WE COMPLIED WITH AND IFR SEP WAS MAINTAINED. MON MORNING MY COPLT CONTACTED CHICAGO ATC AND RELAYED THE OCCURRENCE TO THE OPS OFFICE. HE INFORMED MY COPLT THAT THE CLRNC WE RECEIVED WAS GIVEN IN ERROR AND THAT THE ALT IN THE SID SHOULD HAVE BEEN GIVEN ALONG WITH EXPECT 5000' 10 MINS LATER. IN ESSENCE, IT SHOULD HAVE READ, 'MAINTAIN 3000, EXPECT 5000 10 MINS LATER.' THE OPS OFFICER INFORMED MY COPLT THAT HE WOULD INITIATE CORRECTIVE ACTION AT THEIR END.

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.