Altitude deviation in climb.

Attributes
ACN	170522
Time
Date	199102
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : put
State Reference	CT
Altitude	msl bound lower : 28000 msl bound upper : 28800
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zbw
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	enroute airway : zbw
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 210 flight time total : 900 flight time type : 210
ASRS Report	170522
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance
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:

Climb to FL280 we were occupied with a discussion of a previous problem and I was researching the MEL for the answer to our question. The captain was flying on autoplt. The local altimeter was 19.19, which is very low. As we climbed through 18000' I reset my altimeter, but failed to call 29.92 and check the captain's, as is my normal procedure due to my preoccupation with the MEL. I looked up as we were climbing through 28400' with the autoplt leveling off. Just then the controller asked us to verify FL280. We quickly corrected the problem and descended to FL280. We had reached FL280.8. The controller indicated there was no conflict.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ALT DEVIATION IN CLIMB.

Narrative: CLB TO FL280 WE WERE OCCUPIED WITH A DISCUSSION OF A PREVIOUS PROB AND I WAS RESEARCHING THE MEL FOR THE ANSWER TO OUR QUESTION. THE CAPT WAS FLYING ON AUTOPLT. THE LCL ALTIMETER WAS 19.19, WHICH IS VERY LOW. AS WE CLBED THROUGH 18000' I RESET MY ALTIMETER, BUT FAILED TO CALL 29.92 AND CHK THE CAPT'S, AS IS MY NORMAL PROC DUE TO MY PREOCCUPATION WITH THE MEL. I LOOKED UP AS WE WERE CLBING THROUGH 28400' WITH THE AUTOPLT LEVELING OFF. JUST THEN THE CTLR ASKED US TO VERIFY FL280. WE QUICKLY CORRECTED THE PROB AND DSNDED TO FL280. WE HAD REACHED FL280.8. THE CTLR INDICATED THERE WAS NO CONFLICT.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 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.