Altitude clearance overshot during climb phase. Flight crew claimed jumpseat rider distraction.

Attributes
ACN	307667
Time
Date	199506
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : gij
State Reference	MI
Altitude	msl bound lower : 25000 msl bound upper : 25500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zob
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-200
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 280 flight time total : 14000 flight time type : 4800
ASRS Report	307667
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : cfi pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 250 flight time total : 8000 flight time type : 2000
ASRS Report	307480
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance non adherence other other anomaly other
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:

As we approached our assigned altitude of FL250, I asked our jumpseat rider a question and went through FL250 as my first officer and I listened to the answer. At FL253 I noticed the overshoot and took corrective action. We reached FL255 before returning to FL250. ATC questioned our altitude as we returned to FL250. Factors include a return to non FMC autoplt and jumpseat rider discussion. Corrective action simply requires diligence and attention to detail. Supplemental information from acn 307480: all appropriate callouts had been made during the progressive step-climb out of chicago.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ALT CLRNC OVERSHOT DURING CLB PHASE. FLC CLAIMED JUMPSEAT RIDER DISTR.

Narrative: AS WE APCHED OUR ASSIGNED ALT OF FL250, I ASKED OUR JUMPSEAT RIDER A QUESTION AND WENT THROUGH FL250 AS MY FO AND I LISTENED TO THE ANSWER. AT FL253 I NOTICED THE OVERSHOOT AND TOOK CORRECTIVE ACTION. WE REACHED FL255 BEFORE RETURNING TO FL250. ATC QUESTIONED OUR ALT AS WE RETURNED TO FL250. FACTORS INCLUDE A RETURN TO NON FMC AUTOPLT AND JUMPSEAT RIDER DISCUSSION. CORRECTIVE ACTION SIMPLY REQUIRES DILIGENCE AND ATTN TO DETAIL. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 307480: ALL APPROPRIATE CALLOUTS HAD BEEN MADE DURING THE PROGRESSIVE STEP-CLB OUT OF CHICAGO.

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.