Air ambulance overshot altitude on climb.

Attributes
ACN	100436
Time
Date	198812
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	0001 To 0600
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : u52
State Reference	NC
Altitude	msl bound lower : 12000 msl bound upper : 12300
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : ztl
Operator	other
Make Model Name	Small Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turboprop Eng
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 20 flight time total : 3200 flight time type : 100
ASRS Report	100436
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

The problem: continued climb 300' above assigned altitude because I failed to promptly set the 'altitude sel' mode on the autoplt and failed to properly monitor my altitude. The altitude alerter was set properly and this called my attention to the problem at 12200' MSL. The cause: although both my copilot and I had observed the rest requirements of far 135, our day had been quite long and our sleep fitful. We were both tired and just not performing at our best. Contributing: this was our final leg after dropping off a patient, nurses were asleep and we were relaxed, enjoying the night flying.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AIR AMBULANCE OVERSHOT ALT ON CLIMB.

Narrative: THE PROB: CONTINUED CLB 300' ABOVE ASSIGNED ALT BECAUSE I FAILED TO PROMPTLY SET THE 'ALT SEL' MODE ON THE AUTOPLT AND FAILED TO PROPERLY MONITOR MY ALT. THE ALT ALERTER WAS SET PROPERLY AND THIS CALLED MY ATTN TO THE PROB AT 12200' MSL. THE CAUSE: ALTHOUGH BOTH MY COPLT AND I HAD OBSERVED THE REST REQUIREMENTS OF FAR 135, OUR DAY HAD BEEN QUITE LONG AND OUR SLEEP FITFUL. WE WERE BOTH TIRED AND JUST NOT PERFORMING AT OUR BEST. CONTRIBUTING: THIS WAS OUR FINAL LEG AFTER DROPPING OFF A PATIENT, NURSES WERE ASLEEP AND WE WERE RELAXED, ENJOYING THE NIGHT FLYING.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.