B727 flight crew in air hold has altitude deviation.

Attributes
ACN	317190
Time
Date	199509
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : hgo
State Reference	CO
Altitude	msl bound lower : 15600 msl bound upper : 16000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdv
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B727 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	other
Route In Use	enroute other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 9500 flight time type : 2000
ASRS Report	317190
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : atp pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude inflight encounter : weather non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : became reoriented
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Because of severe WX near the den airport (thunderstorm plus microbrusts) we were holding at the hugo VOR (hgo 112.1). While coordinating with dispatch and my so on fuel state and best divert airport, I busted holding altitude of 16000 ft by 400-450 ft. Best solution would have been to let first officer fly while I did the head work.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B727 FLC IN AIR HOLD HAS ALTDEV.

Narrative: BECAUSE OF SEVERE WX NEAR THE DEN ARPT (TSTM PLUS MICROBRUSTS) WE WERE HOLDING AT THE HUGO VOR (HGO 112.1). WHILE COORDINATING WITH DISPATCH AND MY SO ON FUEL STATE AND BEST DIVERT ARPT, I BUSTED HOLDING ALT OF 16000 FT BY 400-450 FT. BEST SOLUTION WOULD HAVE BEEN TO LET FO FLY WHILE I DID THE HEAD WORK.

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.