Airliner on IFR departure overshoots assigned altitude on climb.

Attributes
ACN	114268
Time
Date	198906
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : ewr
State Reference	NJ
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2500 msl bound upper : 2850
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : n90
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude climbout : initial
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 210 flight time total : 12000 flight time type : 700
ASRS Report	114268
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
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:

Our flight departed ewr for cle after a 2 hour, 40 minute ground delay. Given the departure procedure, after takeoff, heading 040 degree, climb to 2000'. When tower cleared us for takeoff, they repeated the clearance, heading 040 degree, climb to 2000'. Upon contacting departure control, we were asked why we were not flying the ewr two standard instrument departure. We replied 'we were given, heading 040 degree and climb to 2000'. As we were climbing through 1000' the atl alerter sounded. Departure then gave us a turn to 060 degree and climb to 2500'. While still in the right turn, our instructions were amended to 'turn left to 270 degree'. The altitude alerter sounded again at 2850'. The first officer reduced power and began his descent to 2500'. The controller made no comment on the altitude deviation.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AIRLINER ON IFR DEP OVERSHOOTS ASSIGNED ALT ON CLIMB.

Narrative: OUR FLT DEPARTED EWR FOR CLE AFTER A 2 HOUR, 40 MINUTE GND DELAY. GIVEN THE DEP PROC, AFTER TKOF, HDG 040 DEG, CLIMB TO 2000'. WHEN TWR CLRED US FOR TKOF, THEY REPEATED THE CLRNC, HDG 040 DEG, CLIMB TO 2000'. UPON CONTACTING DEP CTL, WE WERE ASKED WHY WE WERE NOT FLYING THE EWR TWO STANDARD INSTRUMENT DEPARTURE. WE REPLIED 'WE WERE GIVEN, HDG 040 DEG AND CLIMB TO 2000'. AS WE WERE CLIMBING THROUGH 1000' THE ATL ALERTER SOUNDED. DEP THEN GAVE US A TURN TO 060 DEG AND CLIMB TO 2500'. WHILE STILL IN THE RIGHT TURN, OUR INSTRUCTIONS WERE AMENDED TO 'TURN LEFT TO 270 DEG'. THE ALT ALERTER SOUNDED AGAIN AT 2850'. THE F/O REDUCED POWER AND BEGAN HIS DSCNT TO 2500'. THE CTLR MADE NO COMMENT ON THE ALT DEVIATION.

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.