Altitude deviation by air carrier due to distraction.

Attributes
ACN	310020
Time
Date	199507
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : bhm
State Reference	AL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 25000 msl bound upper : 25400
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zme
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	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 9000 flight time type : 100
ASRS Report	310020
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

In level cruise flight at FL240, ZME cleared us to FL250. After beginning the climb, I reset the pressurization controller and, when I looked at altimeter, I had climbed through FL250 to FL254 where I stopped the climb and descended down to FL250. ZME said nothing. With a minor distraction, I caused nearly a major altitude deviation. I should have let the PNF reset the pressure controller.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ALTDEV BY ACR DUE TO DISTR.

Narrative: IN LEVEL CRUISE FLT AT FL240, ZME CLRED US TO FL250. AFTER BEGINNING THE CLB, I RESET THE PRESSURIZATION CTLR AND, WHEN I LOOKED AT ALTIMETER, I HAD CLBED THROUGH FL250 TO FL254 WHERE I STOPPED THE CLB AND DSNDED DOWN TO FL250. ZME SAID NOTHING. WITH A MINOR DISTR, I CAUSED NEARLY A MAJOR ALTDEV. I SHOULD HAVE LET THE PNF RESET THE PRESSURE CTLR.

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.