Flight crew of 3 crew large transport level at FL380 when clearance is to maintain FL370.

Attributes
ACN	126757
Time
Date	198910
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : tbc
State Reference	AZ
Altitude	msl bound lower : 37000 msl bound upper : 38000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zla
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
ASRS Report	126757
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance other anomaly
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

First officer flying. Somewhat congested ont airport departure. Normal saturday for lax valley. Step climb but held at 23,000 for fairly lengthy period. Climb to assigned 37.000 included approaching assigned altitude alert. First officer passed thru 37,000 to 37,300 with alert again sounding as it should. Comment was that, 'that was strange'. Assumed that the alert was diagnosed correctly and climb was arrested. Center asked us to confirm level 37,000. I glanced to the altimeter to find we were FL380. Neither I nor the second officer properly backed the first officer up for proper level off. Confirmed for center the 38,000 with immediate descent to 37,000' and reported level. Actually believe culprit is such irregularities in scheduling. We had also arisen at xa that morning and were all still tired.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLT CREW OF 3 CREW LGT LEVEL AT FL380 WHEN CLRNC IS TO MAINTAIN FL370.

Narrative: F/O FLYING. SOMEWHAT CONGESTED ONT ARPT DEP. NORMAL SATURDAY FOR LAX VALLEY. STEP CLIMB BUT HELD AT 23,000 FOR FAIRLY LENGTHY PERIOD. CLIMB TO ASSIGNED 37.000 INCLUDED APCHING ASSIGNED ALT ALERT. F/O PASSED THRU 37,000 TO 37,300 WITH ALERT AGAIN SOUNDING AS IT SHOULD. COMMENT WAS THAT, 'THAT WAS STRANGE'. ASSUMED THAT THE ALERT WAS DIAGNOSED CORRECTLY AND CLIMB WAS ARRESTED. CENTER ASKED US TO CONFIRM LEVEL 37,000. I GLANCED TO THE ALTIMETER TO FIND WE WERE FL380. NEITHER I NOR THE S/O PROPERLY BACKED THE F/O UP FOR PROPER LEVEL OFF. CONFIRMED FOR CENTER THE 38,000 WITH IMMEDIATE DSCNT TO 37,000' AND REPORTED LEVEL. ACTUALLY BELIEVE CULPRIT IS SUCH IRREGULARITIES IN SCHEDULING. WE HAD ALSO ARISEN AT XA THAT MORNING AND WERE ALL STILL TIRED.

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.