ACN: 1745709

Time / Day
Date : 202006
Local Time Of Day : 0001-0600

Place
Locale Reference.Airport : PIE.Airport
State Reference : FL
Altitude.MSL.Single Value : 12600

Environment
Flight Conditions : Marginal
Weather Elements / Visibility : Thunderstorm

Aircraft
Reference : X
ATC / Advisory.TRACON : TPA
Make Model Name : Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Crew Size.Number Of Crew : 2
Flight Plan : IFR
Mission : Passenger
Flight Phase : Climb
Airspace.Class E : TPA

Person
Reference : 1
Location Of Person.Aircraft : X
Location In Aircraft : Flight Deck
Function.Flight Crew : First Officer
Function.Flight Crew : Pilot Flying
Qualification.Flight Crew : Instrument
Qualification.Flight Crew : Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Qualification.Flight Crew : Multiengine
ASRS Report Number.Accession Number : 1745709
Human Factors : Situational Awareness
Human Factors : Communication Breakdown
Communication Breakdown.Party1 : Flight Crew
Communication Breakdown.Party2 : ATC

Events
Anomaly.ATC Issue : All Types
Anomaly.Conflict : Airborne Conflict
Anomaly.Deviation - Altitude : Overshoot
Anomaly.Deviation - Altitude : Excursion From Assigned Altitude
Anomaly.Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural : Clearance
Detector.Person : Air Traffic Control
When Detected : In-flight
 Result.Flight Crew : Returned To Clearance
Result.Air Traffic Control : Issued New Clearance

Assessments
Contributing Factors / Situations : Human Factors
Contributing Factors / Situations : Procedure
Primary Problem : Procedure

Narrative: 1
I was assigned SIC and performing PF duties. During Preflight activities I took care of
customer service, greeted passengers, brought them to plane etc. The PIC was performing
PNF duties, obtaining ATC Clearance and cockpit set up. After ensuring passengers were
taken care of, I then went to the flight deck and sat down fastened my safety belt in the
left seat. The PIC had already obtained the departure clearance and set up the cockpit for
departure to include the flight instruments with an initial assigned altitude of 16,000 feet. I
was not present on the flight deck when clearance was received, read back to ATC, and
confirmation of correct read back from ATC. The PIC briefed the flight plan, we reviewed
the FMS, and I was briefed 16,000 feet as our initial assigned altitude. We departed PIE
normally, thunderstorms were in the vicinity. The PIC attempted to check in 3 times with
ATC before successfully making contact on the 4th attempt. We were climbing through
12,600 feet to what we believed was our assigned altitude of 16,000 feet. ATC
immediately told us to descend to 12,000. We complied with that instruction and
descended to 12,000 feet. At no time did I observe on TCAS an aircraft within 5NM of our
aircraft. We did not get a TA or RA event. ATC requested we contact them after we land at
our destination. We called ATC. We discussed event with Controller. Controller had
informed us that he had reviewed the event prior to us calling. Twice in the conversation
he stated that we (Pilots of Aircraft X) did nothing wrong. He believed PIE Tower may have
missed correct read back of Initial ATC clearance.

Suspect miscommunication of initial ATC clearance departing PIE. Without being present
when clearance was obtained from ATC, I cannot confirm with 100% certainty. Other
factors to be considered should take into consideration the effects of the COVID-19
pandemic and how this has affected all aviation operations. Both the PIC and myself
haven't flown in over two months. This was our first trip back in just less than 90 days.
Controller from ATC also briefly addressed the affects COVID-19 was having on ATC
personal in our conversation. I understood from Controller that many ATC personal were
working in unfamiliar duty positions, new sectors etc., i.e. recognition that ATC personal,
operations have been strained over the past few months due to COVID-19 issues.

Recognition that many ATC personnel and pilots are working in somewhat strained
conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is important to maintain vigilance in
regards to attention to detail, recognition of distractors that may degrade or impede
performance. Keep focus on tasks at hand.

Synopsis
Air carrier First Officer reported a miscommunication problem with TPA TRACON resulting
in an altitude deviation and attributed it partly due to not flying because of COVID-19.