Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Communication Breakdown
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation - Altitude Overshoot; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Inflight Event / Encounter Wake Vortex Encounter
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Returned To Clearance
Environment - Non Weather Related; Human Factors; Procedure
We were level at FL190 and given a climb to FL290. [The Captain] repeated back FL290. I started the climb and [the Captain] got up to shut the curtain and check on the passenger. Passing through FL220; the Controller asked me what altitude I was at and I replied. The Controller said I was only cleared to FL210; and to stop climb. I was climbing at approximately 2700 fpm; stopped the climb at about FL22.9 and started a descent back to FL220; which is about where I was told to stop climb. As I was descending; the aircraft made an uncommanded roll to the right; to approximately 30 degrees. The aircraft righted itself but snapped over to a left bank at a high roll rate. I disconnected the autopilot and assertively brought the aircraft back level. The aircraft started another high roll rate bank to the right and I made an aggressive input to stop the roll rate as we would have otherwise been in an unusual attitude situation. The Captain made it back to his seat and advised me we were in someone's wake. The Captain took over the radios. We got a new altitude assignment; and were asked if we had an RA. We responded; we did not; and the Captain reiterated that we had been given FL290 and responded with FL290. The Controller advised that they would look in to it. Nothing more was said; and the flight continued normally.
Original clearance was given by SDL Clearance then shortly amended due to weather on route due to 'route closure'. After takeoff; multiple altitudes were given due to other aircraft traffic. About 3-5 minutes before event; an airliner was observed directly overhead; probably 2;000 feet above our altitude on same course. At an altitude I recall was FL190; we were given climb to FL290. After completing Transition Altitude Checklist; I left cockpit to close main cabin door noise curtain. Seconds later; aircraft began to roll side to side with the equivalent of moderate turbulence. I held on to galley cabinetry for security and realized this was effect of wake turbulence from [another] aircraft. Pilot Flying took manual control of aircraft and reported to ATC. ATC reported we were assigned FL210. After returning to my seat; I inquired to ATC about my read back to climb to FL290; [Controller] said someone would look into it and determine cause of event.
CL350 flight crew reported encountering wake turbulence departing SDL when they misunderstood a climb clearance and overshot their cleared altitude.