Small transport pilot overshoots assigned altitude when distracted by chattering son.

Attributes
ACN	245789
Time
Date	199307
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : bkl
State Reference	OH
Altitude	msl bound lower : 5000 msl bound upper : 5300
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : cle
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Small Transport
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 71 flight time total : 2820 flight time type : 71
ASRS Report	245789
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	observation : passenger
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
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:

My 6 yr old sat in copilot's seat during takeoff. He started talking to me while I was switching to departure. I operated the wrong switches and could not raise departure! I kept flying on my heading of 270 degrees, climbing to 2000 ft. I finally got the radio set up and made contact with departure. Could not get son to stop talking so I busted step climb altitude by 300 ft. Instead of going from a to B, I went from #1 to #2. However #2 was off! I forced myself to look for the problem. Next time son will be in the back!

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMT PLT OVERSHOOTS ASSIGNED ALT WHEN DISTRACTED BY CHATTERING SON.

Narrative: MY 6 YR OLD SAT IN COPLT'S SEAT DURING TKOF. HE STARTED TALKING TO ME WHILE I WAS SWITCHING TO DEP. I OPERATED THE WRONG SWITCHES AND COULD NOT RAISE DEP! I KEPT FLYING ON MY HDG OF 270 DEGS, CLBING TO 2000 FT. I FINALLY GOT THE RADIO SET UP AND MADE CONTACT WITH DEP. COULD NOT GET SON TO STOP TALKING SO I BUSTED STEP CLB ALT BY 300 FT. INSTEAD OF GOING FROM A TO B, I WENT FROM #1 TO #2. HOWEVER #2 WAS OFF! I FORCED MYSELF TO LOOK FOR THE PROB. NEXT TIME SON WILL BE IN THE BACK!

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.