An air carrier large transport overshot its assigned altitude on climb.

Attributes
ACN	262220
Time
Date	199401
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : cae
State Reference	SC
Altitude	msl bound lower : 28000 msl bound upper : 28400
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zjx
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B727-200
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : flight engineer pilot : commercial pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 15000 flight time type : 10000
ASRS Report	262220
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 6000 flight time type : 3400
ASRS Report	262381
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : became reoriented flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

While leveling off at FL280, a flight attendant came into the cockpit to discuss the cabin temperature with the flight engineer. I turned around to see what the problem was, and as the flight attendant was explaining the situation, I heard the altitude alert sound off. I turned back to the flight instruments and immediately noticed our altitude at 28400 ft and climbing at 500 FPM. I immediately instructed the first officer to descend to FL280, and we did. ATC did not question our altitude at any time. The #1 transponder was placarded 'inoperative' thus rendering our TCASII system 'inoperative' also. I recommend that aircraft altitude alert system 'sound' at 150 ft deviation versus a 300 ft deviation to give the pilot a quicker warning to help avoid altdevs.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN ACR LGT OVERSHOT ITS ASSIGNED ALT ON CLB.

Narrative: WHILE LEVELING OFF AT FL280, A FLT ATTENDANT CAME INTO THE COCKPIT TO DISCUSS THE CABIN TEMP WITH THE FE. I TURNED AROUND TO SEE WHAT THE PROB WAS, AND AS THE FLT ATTENDANT WAS EXPLAINING THE SIT, I HEARD THE ALT ALERT SOUND OFF. I TURNED BACK TO THE FLT INSTS AND IMMEDIATELY NOTICED OUR ALT AT 28400 FT AND CLBING AT 500 FPM. I IMMEDIATELY INSTRUCTED THE FO TO DSND TO FL280, AND WE DID. ATC DID NOT QUESTION OUR ALT AT ANY TIME. THE #1 XPONDER WAS PLACARDED 'INOP' THUS RENDERING OUR TCASII SYS 'INOP' ALSO. I RECOMMEND THAT ACFT ALT ALERT SYS 'SOUND' AT 150 FT DEV VERSUS A 300 FT DEV TO GIVE THE PLT A QUICKER WARNING TO HELP AVOID ALTDEVS.

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.