Caravan 208B
Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Flight Instructor
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 110; Flight Crew Total 2450; Flight Crew Type 55
Fatigue; Situational Awareness; Communication Breakdown; Workload
ATC Issue All Types; Conflict Airborne Conflict; Deviation - Altitude Overshoot; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action; Flight Crew Returned To Clearance
Human Factors; Procedure
I was climbing with the autopilot; instructed to climb to 10;000 FT when the Approach Controller started nearly yelling at me to descend instantly. When I looked at my altimeter it read 10;200 FT and so I quickly descended to 10;000 FT . He continued to yell; repeatedly telling me to descend to 10;000 FT; even though I informed him multiple times that that's exactly where I was; and he then told me there was traffic descending above me. He accused me of being at 10;500 FT and climbing when I seemed confused as to his demeanor. I'm not sure if he was exaggerating or if the transponder in the airplane was sending faulty information; but I am very sure I was nowhere near 10;500 FT. I was likely still in a slow climb; but with a fully loaded C208B (Caravan) I doubt my climb rate could have been very much. Again; I'm not sure what he saw on his screen; but I know I was only 200 FT high; not 500. A definite factor here is fatigue. I was fatigued to the point of losing situational awareness and not knowing whether I had reached 10;000 FT because of the schedule I fly 6 days a week; 14 hour days; and flights every morning at 6:30 am local time. I realize the FAA allows 9 hours rest for scheduled Part 135 operations; but I would STRONGLY consider raising that limit. It may be safe for some pilots; but every person has different needs; and instances like this make me realize how dangerous extended schedules that don't allow for much actual sleep can be.
A C208B pilot reported fatigue from long duty days; six days a week and momentarily climbing 200 FT about the 10;000 FT altitude assigned before an Approach Controller urgently demanded a descent.