Narrative:

After takeoff we were cleared to 4000' MSL. During the climb my first officer was having difficulty controling the temperature inside the cockpit. We were then cleared to climb to 6000' MSL. It seemed that he did not understand how to operate the system manually. The temperature control panel is on his side so I diverted my attention to pointing and explaining what I needed him to do as it was getting very hot in the cockpit. After my explanation I returned my attention to detail and noted that I was at 7000' MSL. At the same time that I had noticed my altitude, departure control cleared me to 9000' MSL. That's all that was said. I have learned a lesson from this. It's an old basic lesson that I was already familiar with, but apparently needed reminding. Always fly the airplane first before anything else.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CLIMB OUT, COCKPIT TEMPERATURE PROBLEM, CAPT DIVERTED ATTENTION TO ASSIST FO. CLIMBED THROUGH ASSIGNED ALT.

Narrative: AFTER TKOF WE WERE CLRED TO 4000' MSL. DURING THE CLIMB MY F/O WAS HAVING DIFFICULTY CTLING THE TEMP INSIDE THE COCKPIT. WE WERE THEN CLRED TO CLIMB TO 6000' MSL. IT SEEMED THAT HE DID NOT UNDERSTAND HOW TO OPERATE THE SYSTEM MANUALLY. THE TEMP CONTROL PANEL IS ON HIS SIDE SO I DIVERTED MY ATTN TO POINTING AND EXPLAINING WHAT I NEEDED HIM TO DO AS IT WAS GETTING VERY HOT IN THE COCKPIT. AFTER MY EXPLANATION I RETURNED MY ATTN TO DETAIL AND NOTED THAT I WAS AT 7000' MSL. AT THE SAME TIME THAT I HAD NOTICED MY ALT, DEP CTL CLRED ME TO 9000' MSL. THAT'S ALL THAT WAS SAID. I HAVE LEARNED A LESSON FROM THIS. IT'S AN OLD BASIC LESSON THAT I WAS ALREADY FAMILIAR WITH, BUT APPARENTLY NEEDED REMINDING. ALWAYS FLY THE AIRPLANE FIRST BEFORE ANYTHING ELSE.

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.