An air carrier medium large transport failed to climb when cleared.

Attributes
ACN	278701
Time
Date	199407
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : rdu
State Reference	NC
Altitude	msl bound lower : 17000 msl bound upper : 23000
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-80 Series (DC-9-80) Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude cruise other
Route In Use	enroute airway : zdc
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
ASRS Report	278701
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : undershoot non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Departing rdu, we leveled off at 17000 ft. I was checking my charts for the next fix when ATC cleared us to climb to FL230. I responded and set 230 in the altitude alerter then went back to checking my chart. The captain responded to the altitude properly. We did not immediately begin the climb, though. The captain was checking the radar and I was in my chart. We allowed ourselves to be distracted and stayed at 17000 ft for about 3 mins when ATC asked our altitude. We then realized our error and climbed to FL230.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN ACR MLG FAILED TO CLB WHEN CLRED.

Narrative: DEPARTING RDU, WE LEVELED OFF AT 17000 FT. I WAS CHKING MY CHARTS FOR THE NEXT FIX WHEN ATC CLRED US TO CLB TO FL230. I RESPONDED AND SET 230 IN THE ALT ALERTER THEN WENT BACK TO CHKING MY CHART. THE CAPT RESPONDED TO THE ALT PROPERLY. WE DID NOT IMMEDIATELY BEGIN THE CLB, THOUGH. THE CAPT WAS CHKING THE RADAR AND I WAS IN MY CHART. WE ALLOWED OURSELVES TO BE DISTRACTED AND STAYED AT 17000 FT FOR ABOUT 3 MINS WHEN ATC ASKED OUR ALT. WE THEN REALIZED OUR ERROR AND CLBED TO FL230.

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.