BE1900 CREW OVERSHOT CLRED ALT DURING CLBOUT OF PNS.

Narrative

WE TOOK OFF FROM PNS WITH 10000 FT SET IN THE ALT ALERTER. PROCEDURALLY; WE TAKE OFF WITH THE INITIAL ALT SET IN THE ALERTER. CLBING THROUGH 4000 FT MSL; TWR HANDED US OFF TO DEP AND ASKED; 'WHAT ALT ARE YOU CLBING TO?' (3000 FT IS NORMALLY THE INITIAL ALT LIMIT ASSIGNED AT PNS.) WHILE LOOKING AT THE ALT ALERTER; I RESPONDED; '10000 FT. THAT'S WHAT WE WERE ASSIGNED.' BEFORE SWITCHING TO DEP; I CHKED THE CLRNC WRITTEN DOWN. WE WERE CLRED TO 3000 FT AND EXPECT 10000 FT IN 10 MINS. 10000 FT WAS REQUESTED AS A FINAL INSTEAD OF 16000 FT; THE FILED ALT. WHEN WE CHKED IN WITH DEP; THE CTLR ASKED WHAT ALT WE WERE AT. I RESPONDED; 'CLBING THROUGH 4000 FT.' DEP ASSIGNED US 10000 FT AND DID NOT QUESTION THE 3000 FT LIMIT. THE 10000 FT PUT IN THE ALERTER WAS PUT IN BY MISTAKE FOR 1 OF 2 REASONS: 1) IT WAS PUT IN WHILE THINKING OF OUR FINAL ALT. 2) WE HAD COME FROM TLH AND THE NORMAL INITIAL ALT IS 10000 FT. CORRECTIVE ACTION: WE STOPPED OUR CLB AT 4000 FT; HOWEVER; DEP GAVE US THE CLRNC TO 10000 FT AND THE CLB WAS CONTINUED.