Altitude deviation during climb.

Attributes
ACN	300890
Time
Date	199504
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : mmj
State Reference	PA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 14000 msl bound upper : 14800
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zob tracon : n90
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : single pilot oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : flight engineer pilot : instrument pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 14750 flight time type : 2245
ASRS Report	300890
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : became reoriented flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

We were climbing to cruise altitude with an intermediate level off altitude of 14000 ft MSL. The copilot was making a PA to the passenger and I was answering a question asked by 1 of the flight attendants. I look at the altimeter and misread it. I thought we were approaching 14000 ft, when we were actually approaching 15000 ft. The copilot noticed this and informed me immediately. I immediately reversed the climb into a descent. We had climbed to 14800 ft and I expedited descent back to 14000 ft. If I had been more alert, I would have caught this before it happened. I need to be more vigilant.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ALTDEV DURING CLB.

Narrative: WE WERE CLBING TO CRUISE ALT WITH AN INTERMEDIATE LEVEL OFF ALT OF 14000 FT MSL. THE COPLT WAS MAKING A PA TO THE PAX AND I WAS ANSWERING A QUESTION ASKED BY 1 OF THE FLT ATTENDANTS. I LOOK AT THE ALTIMETER AND MISREAD IT. I THOUGHT WE WERE APCHING 14000 FT, WHEN WE WERE ACTUALLY APCHING 15000 FT. THE COPLT NOTICED THIS AND INFORMED ME IMMEDIATELY. I IMMEDIATELY REVERSED THE CLB INTO A DSCNT. WE HAD CLBED TO 14800 FT AND I EXPEDITED DSCNT BACK TO 14000 FT. IF I HAD BEEN MORE ALERT, I WOULD HAVE CAUGHT THIS BEFORE IT HAPPENED. I NEED TO BE MORE VIGILANT.

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.