Altitude deviation.

Attributes
ACN	281403
Time
Date	199408
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : mke
State Reference	WI
Altitude	msl bound lower : 33000 msl bound upper : 34000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zmp tower : dlh
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 230 flight time total : 20000 flight time type : 2400
ASRS Report	281403
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 225 flight time total : 11800 flight time type : 2500
ASRS Report	281642
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	atc equipment other atc equipment : unspecified other controllera
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course flight crew : exited penetrated airspace
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

In climb flight was issued climb to FL370. Later a heading was given and at same time restr of FL330. I acknowledged and observed first officer change heading. The required 20 degree but did not verify altitude MCP. Later I realized we were above FL330. Center questioned us and cleared us to FL370. At time of error I as PNF was working on logbook, and other cockpit discretions. Ie, previous and continuing mechanical problems. First officer was flying with autoplt, operating the MCP. The first officer did not hear and I did not challenge the altitude restr (we assume one was still in effect). Factors: flight had been like a loft ride. Several mechanical problems. Part requiring contact with maintenance control/dispatch. Use of communication. I was 'busy' trying to get the paperwork done. First officer was working under adverse conditions. He had just learned his father was in hospital with heart problem. Corrective actions follow SOP: leave paperwork to cruise or after landing not require flight personnel to fly when family problems affect attitude. Allow use of sick leave.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ALTDEV.

Narrative: IN CLB FLT WAS ISSUED CLB TO FL370. LATER A HDG WAS GIVEN AND AT SAME TIME RESTR OF FL330. I ACKNOWLEDGED AND OBSERVED FO CHANGE HDG. THE REQUIRED 20 DEG BUT DID NOT VERIFY ALT MCP. LATER I REALIZED WE WERE ABOVE FL330. CTR QUESTIONED US AND CLRED US TO FL370. AT TIME OF ERROR I AS PNF WAS WORKING ON LOGBOOK, AND OTHER COCKPIT DISCRETIONS. IE, PREVIOUS AND CONTINUING MECHANICAL PROBS. FO WAS FLYING WITH AUTOPLT, OPERATING THE MCP. THE FO DID NOT HEAR AND I DID NOT CHALLENGE THE ALT RESTR (WE ASSUME ONE WAS STILL IN EFFECT). FACTORS: FLT HAD BEEN LIKE A LOFT RIDE. SEVERAL MECHANICAL PROBS. PART REQUIRING CONTACT WITH MAINT CTL/DISPATCH. USE OF COM. I WAS 'BUSY' TRYING TO GET THE PAPERWORK DONE. FO WAS WORKING UNDER ADVERSE CONDITIONS. HE HAD JUST LEARNED HIS FATHER WAS IN HOSPITAL WITH HEART PROB. CORRECTIVE ACTIONS FOLLOW SOP: LEAVE PAPERWORK TO CRUISE OR AFTER LNDG NOT REQUIRE FLT PERSONNEL TO FLY WHEN FAMILY PROBS AFFECT ATTITUDE. ALLOW USE OF SICK LEAVE.

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.