Altitude deviation altitude overshot during climb out.

Attributes
ACN	320665
Time
Date	199511
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : ord
State Reference	IL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 6000 msl bound upper : 6400
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : ord
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	other : unknown
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 250 flight time total : 6800 flight time type : 1500
ASRS Report	320665
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance 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:

We leveled off at assigned altitude (5000 ft). Ord departure then issued instructions to climb to 6000 ft (a somewhat unusual clearance and altitude for O'hare). I read back 6000 ft and dialed 6000 ft into mode control panel altitude. I noticed traffic on TCASII at our 2 O'clock and about 5 mi, at 6900 ft, and was looking for him out my window when I heard the captain declare (expletive deleted) and looked back in to watch him nose over as we climbed to 6400 ft. He descended back to 6000 ft. I should have been more diligent in watching him climb out. However, he is an excellent pilot and had never previously given me cause to 'watch him!' also, he elected to use VNAV for the climb, even though it was only for 1000 ft. VNAV climb will give full climb power and sometimes an excessive climb rate (3000-4000 FPM), as it did in this case. I should have included the instruments in my scan even while I searched for traffic. This was the captain's first trip back after a long leave which also has me wondering when, after suffering such emotional trauma, is it ok to return to work? You can't stay away forever, but how do you know it's okay to come back until you do so? I think he's doing fine, but I could tell his error upset him. Again, in light of all this, I should have been more diligent.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ALTDEV ALT OVERSHOT DURING CLBOUT.

Narrative: WE LEVELED OFF AT ASSIGNED ALT (5000 FT). ORD DEP THEN ISSUED INSTRUCTIONS TO CLB TO 6000 FT (A SOMEWHAT UNUSUAL CLRNC AND ALT FOR O'HARE). I READ BACK 6000 FT AND DIALED 6000 FT INTO MODE CTL PANEL ALT. I NOTICED TFC ON TCASII AT OUR 2 O'CLOCK AND ABOUT 5 MI, AT 6900 FT, AND WAS LOOKING FOR HIM OUT MY WINDOW WHEN I HEARD THE CAPT DECLARE (EXPLETIVE DELETED) AND LOOKED BACK IN TO WATCH HIM NOSE OVER AS WE CLBED TO 6400 FT. HE DSNDED BACK TO 6000 FT. I SHOULD HAVE BEEN MORE DILIGENT IN WATCHING HIM CLB OUT. HOWEVER, HE IS AN EXCELLENT PLT AND HAD NEVER PREVIOUSLY GIVEN ME CAUSE TO 'WATCH HIM!' ALSO, HE ELECTED TO USE VNAV FOR THE CLB, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS ONLY FOR 1000 FT. VNAV CLB WILL GIVE FULL CLB PWR AND SOMETIMES AN EXCESSIVE CLB RATE (3000-4000 FPM), AS IT DID IN THIS CASE. I SHOULD HAVE INCLUDED THE INSTS IN MY SCAN EVEN WHILE I SEARCHED FOR TFC. THIS WAS THE CAPT'S FIRST TRIP BACK AFTER A LONG LEAVE WHICH ALSO HAS ME WONDERING WHEN, AFTER SUFFERING SUCH EMOTIONAL TRAUMA, IS IT OK TO RETURN TO WORK? YOU CAN'T STAY AWAY FOREVER, BUT HOW DO YOU KNOW IT'S OKAY TO COME BACK UNTIL YOU DO SO? I THINK HE'S DOING FINE, BUT I COULD TELL HIS ERROR UPSET HIM. AGAIN, IN LIGHT OF ALL THIS, I SHOULD HAVE BEEN MORE DILIGENT.

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.