Small aircraft climbs above assigned altitude on climb out.

Attributes
ACN	294612
Time
Date	199501
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : lbe
State Reference	PA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 5000 msl bound upper : 6000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zla
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	enroute airway : zob
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 65 flight time total : 1540 flight time type : 980
ASRS Report	294612
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	observation : passenger
Qualification	other other : other
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance
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:

I was cleared to 5000 ft to expect 9000 ft in 10 mins. Upon reaching 4800 ft, I was preparing to retrim and level off at 5000 ft, since I had not received clearance yet for higher. A rear seat passenger (1ST flight) then told me she felt sick. While reaching around behind me to reach an air sickness bag and to see how she looked, I kept climbing up to 6000 ft by the time I turned around. I was also in an updraft which I didn't realize. ZOB called out the altitude and I promptly descended back to 6000 ft. Then I was cleared up to 9000 ft. I don't believe any conflict occurred. Obviously. I should not have been distracted by my sick passenger. I should have leveled off and then attended to her needs. She was not sick earlier, and I usually don't leave the air-sickness bags exposed for psychological reasons, but that will now change.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA CLBS ABOVE ASSIGNED ALT ON CLBOUT.

Narrative: I WAS CLRED TO 5000 FT TO EXPECT 9000 FT IN 10 MINS. UPON REACHING 4800 FT, I WAS PREPARING TO RETRIM AND LEVEL OFF AT 5000 FT, SINCE I HAD NOT RECEIVED CLRNC YET FOR HIGHER. A REAR SEAT PAX (1ST FLT) THEN TOLD ME SHE FELT SICK. WHILE REACHING AROUND BEHIND ME TO REACH AN AIR SICKNESS BAG AND TO SEE HOW SHE LOOKED, I KEPT CLBING UP TO 6000 FT BY THE TIME I TURNED AROUND. I WAS ALSO IN AN UPDRAFT WHICH I DIDN'T REALIZE. ZOB CALLED OUT THE ALT AND I PROMPTLY DSNDED BACK TO 6000 FT. THEN I WAS CLRED UP TO 9000 FT. I DON'T BELIEVE ANY CONFLICT OCCURRED. OBVIOUSLY. I SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN DISTRACTED BY MY SICK PAX. I SHOULD HAVE LEVELED OFF AND THEN ATTENDED TO HER NEEDS. SHE WAS NOT SICK EARLIER, AND I USUALLY DON'T LEAVE THE AIR-SICKNESS BAGS EXPOSED FOR PSYCHOLOGICAL REASONS, BUT THAT WILL NOW CHANGE.

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.