Narrative:

On flight from msp to pit, we began to circumnav a large area of WX starting north of cle toward pit and extending east and west some 60 NM. We had deviated and been rerted from the northwest arrival route to the northeast side, then to the southeast side. We finally hit nesto intersection, intercepted the localizer for runway 32. We were given clearance to cross wyler intersection at or above 4000 ft, and cleared approach. Checking the radar, it was obvious WX was near pit and missed approach course was not available. Then approach control approach clearance maintain 5000 ft and hold at wyler. I contacted our dispatcher to coordinate diversion. He wanted us to go to cleveland, I said not an option, I want harrisburg unless you have something better. I notified pit approach I wanted to turn south and get a clearance to mdt. At this point I was very busy talking to flight attendants, company and ATC. My copilot was flying, avoiding buildups, and talking to ATC when I was off the radio. At some point we had clearance to 14000 ft. At 10000 ft I notified the passenger that we were diverting and why. I again called dispatch to tell them that we were committed to mdt. Also during all these turns and altitude changes I was trying to get something in the FMC (computer) to navigation to. We were both awfully busy. Just as I was coming back to normal cockpit duties we go busting through 14000 ft. We do not get it stopped until 14700 ft. As we start back down ATC informs us of the altitude deviation on their radar. No other comments were made. Being oversaturated caused the problem. Unable to get decision from company immediately didn't help. Having 29 other jets trying to call ATC and company at same time didn't help. Certainly trying to keep everyone informed hurt. I left my copilot more or less solo for 5 mins flying talking, and evading WX.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR HAS ALT OVERSHOOT ON CLB.

Narrative: ON FLT FROM MSP TO PIT, WE BEGAN TO CIRCUMNAV A LARGE AREA OF WX STARTING N OF CLE TOWARD PIT AND EXTENDING E AND W SOME 60 NM. WE HAD DEVIATED AND BEEN RERTED FROM THE NW ARR RTE TO THE NE SIDE, THEN TO THE SE SIDE. WE FINALLY HIT NESTO INTXN, INTERCEPTED THE LOC FOR RWY 32. WE WERE GIVEN CLRNC TO CROSS WYLER INTXN AT OR ABOVE 4000 FT, AND CLRED APCH. CHKING THE RADAR, IT WAS OBVIOUS WX WAS NEAR PIT AND MISSED APCH COURSE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THEN APCH CTL APCH CLRNC MAINTAIN 5000 FT AND HOLD AT WYLER. I CONTACTED OUR DISPATCHER TO COORDINATE DIVERSION. HE WANTED US TO GO TO CLEVELAND, I SAID NOT AN OPTION, I WANT HARRISBURG UNLESS YOU HAVE SOMETHING BETTER. I NOTIFIED PIT APCH I WANTED TO TURN S AND GET A CLRNC TO MDT. AT THIS POINT I WAS VERY BUSY TALKING TO FLT ATTENDANTS, COMPANY AND ATC. MY COPLT WAS FLYING, AVOIDING BUILDUPS, AND TALKING TO ATC WHEN I WAS OFF THE RADIO. AT SOME POINT WE HAD CLRNC TO 14000 FT. AT 10000 FT I NOTIFIED THE PAX THAT WE WERE DIVERTING AND WHY. I AGAIN CALLED DISPATCH TO TELL THEM THAT WE WERE COMMITTED TO MDT. ALSO DURING ALL THESE TURNS AND ALT CHANGES I WAS TRYING TO GET SOMETHING IN THE FMC (COMPUTER) TO NAV TO. WE WERE BOTH AWFULLY BUSY. JUST AS I WAS COMING BACK TO NORMAL COCKPIT DUTIES WE GO BUSTING THROUGH 14000 FT. WE DO NOT GET IT STOPPED UNTIL 14700 FT. AS WE START BACK DOWN ATC INFORMS US OF THE ALTDEV ON THEIR RADAR. NO OTHER COMMENTS WERE MADE. BEING OVERSATURATED CAUSED THE PROB. UNABLE TO GET DECISION FROM COMPANY IMMEDIATELY DIDN'T HELP. HAVING 29 OTHER JETS TRYING TO CALL ATC AND COMPANY AT SAME TIME DIDN'T HELP. CERTAINLY TRYING TO KEEP EVERYONE INFORMED HURT. I LEFT MY COPLT MORE OR LESS SOLO FOR 5 MINS FLYING TALKING, AND EVADING WX.

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.