Flight crew overshot assigned altitude.

Attributes
ACN	297260
Time
Date	199502
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : mia
State Reference	FL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3000 msl bound upper : 3300
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : mia
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	departure other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 250 flight time total : 2500 flight time type : 100
ASRS Report	297260
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 306 flight time total : 1473 flight time type : 282
ASRS Report	298090
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera 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:

Our instructions from clearance delivery were maintain 3000 ft. During climb out from ft lauderdale international, we were told by departure to maintain 150 KTS. During this phase of flight, on this particular route, departure usually clears aircraft to 4000 ft. We received no such clearance. The first officer and I were both discussing the speed restr and lack of further (higher) altitude clearance. Our discussion distraction us both from our standard altitude callouts. At 3300 ft, we both noticed our altitude just as the departure controller called to question our altitude. I quickly descended back to 3000 ft. I maintained 150 KTS the entire time. Complacency combined with an unusual clearance (without an explanation, ie, 'your following slower traffic ahead,' etc) for that route and that time of day were both contributing factors. The first officer and I should have complied with the clearance first, then if time allowed, while in cruise, query the controller for a reason for the slow speed at a low altitude.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLC OVERSHOT ASSIGNED ALT.

Narrative: OUR INSTRUCTIONS FROM CLRNC DELIVERY WERE MAINTAIN 3000 FT. DURING CLBOUT FROM FT LAUDERDALE INTL, WE WERE TOLD BY DEP TO MAINTAIN 150 KTS. DURING THIS PHASE OF FLT, ON THIS PARTICULAR RTE, DEP USUALLY CLRS ACFT TO 4000 FT. WE RECEIVED NO SUCH CLRNC. THE FO AND I WERE BOTH DISCUSSING THE SPD RESTR AND LACK OF FURTHER (HIGHER) ALT CLRNC. OUR DISCUSSION DISTR US BOTH FROM OUR STANDARD ALT CALLOUTS. AT 3300 FT, WE BOTH NOTICED OUR ALT JUST AS THE DEP CTLR CALLED TO QUESTION OUR ALT. I QUICKLY DSNDED BACK TO 3000 FT. I MAINTAINED 150 KTS THE ENTIRE TIME. COMPLACENCY COMBINED WITH AN UNUSUAL CLRNC (WITHOUT AN EXPLANATION, IE, 'YOUR FOLLOWING SLOWER TFC AHEAD,' ETC) FOR THAT RTE AND THAT TIME OF DAY WERE BOTH CONTRIBUTING FACTORS. THE FO AND I SHOULD HAVE COMPLIED WITH THE CLRNC FIRST, THEN IF TIME ALLOWED, WHILE IN CRUISE, QUERY THE CTLR FOR A REASON FOR THE SLOW SPD AT A LOW ALT.

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.