Date: 201508
Local time of day: 1201-1800
Location: ZZZ.Airport, US
Flight conditions: Mixed
Light: Daylight
Aircraft: T45 (or T2C) Goshawk
Operator: Military
Operating under: Part 91
Flight plan: IFR
Mission: Training
Flight phase: Initial Climb
Airspace: Class E ZZZ
ATC / advisory: TRACON ZZZ
Reporter organization: Military
Reporter function: Instructor; Pilot Flying
Reporter qualification: Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Human factors: Confusion; Workload; Time Pressure; Distraction
Anomaly: Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance
Detector: Person Air Traffic Control
When detected: In-flight
Result: Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action; Flight Crew Returned To Clearance; Flight Crew Became Reoriented
Contributing factors: Procedure; Human Factors; Airport; Weather
Primary problem: Human Factors

Narrative: I was an Instructor in training leading a 4 plane division of T-45C's that was departing on stereo route.  Initial clearance was to 7;000 feet; amended on departure to maintain 4;000 feet.  Flight was joining at 4;000 feet as clouds approached.  Weather prior to flight reported few/scattered clouds between 3-5;000 feet. [Military] Training instructions require these training formations to maintain VMC; so I as the instructor lead in training was attempting to maneuver to maintain VMC and get the 4 aircraft joined into the formation.  I requested higher to allow this to happen and was told to maintain 4;000 feet.  I had mistakenly assumed I would be granted the higher and was trying to maintain VMC; but I had exceeded the assigned altitude.  During this time; the flight was switched from departure to Approach.  APCH pointed out altitude deviation and I immediately returned the flight to 4;000 feet.  APCH gave a phone number for the flight to call on landing.  I called the number on landing and discussed the need to maintain assigned altitudes and to comply with clearances.  The person I spoke with was very helpful and courteous.  I left a return phone number for any further questions on the incident.I completely understand the need to maintain the assigned altitude and my responsibility in this flight.  I allowed myself to be overwhelmed during this phase of flight and failed to maintain the proper altitude.  I should have requested to level off below the clouds to join the flight or cancelled IFR and maintained VFR; clear of the clouds.  I did not receive any specific traffic calls but was advised that other traffic was in the area at 5;000 feet.  This leads me to believe that separation was not lost with any other aircraft.  I highly regret that I allowed this to happen and am embarrassed as a professional aviator.  I failed myself on this instructional flight and will be repeating the training to prevent this from happening again in the future.In the area around base; we have quite a bit of military flight training.  I got too comfortable in this environment and assumed I would be cleared as requested - not so.  I will have a frank discussion about this event with the other instructor pilots here at the station to prevent future incidents of this nature.




Synopsis: A T-45 Instructor with a flight of four became distracted after departure and overshot his assigned altitude of 4000 feet while trying to join formation and remain VMC. ATC requested descent to assigned altitude.