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The flight crew was in the process of leveling at their assigned FL290 when the flight attendant advised of a passenger having a seizure. The distraction caused the PF to exceed his altitude by 200 ft.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 329760 |
| Time | |
| Date | 199602 |
| Day | Mon |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201 To 1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | atc facility : orf |
| State Reference | VA |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 29000 msl bound upper : 29200 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zdc |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | DC-9 Undifferentiated or Other Model |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | climbout : intermediate altitude cruise other |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : captain oversight : pic |
| Qualification | pilot : atp pilot : flight engineer pilot : cfi |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 20300 flight time type : 2400 |
| ASRS Report | 329760 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : first officer |
| Qualification | pilot : instrument pilot : commercial |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance other anomaly other |
| Independent Detector | other controllera other flight crewa |
| Resolutory Action | flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course |
| Consequence | faa : reviewed incident with flight crew |
| Supplementary | |
| Air Traffic Incident | other |
Narrative:
Cleared to FL330 at fl FL230 in a climb. ATC advised us to maintain FL290 as we were leveling at FL290. Approximately rate of climb 300 FPM. Flight attendant entered cockpit and advised passenger in seat xx was having seizure. Overshot altitude approximately 200 ft, returned to FL290. I write this because ATC asked our altitude. 'Wanted to make sure you were leveling at FL290.' confirmed level FL290, advised ATC of possible deviation due to passenger illness, requested to remain FL290. Doctor onboard advised ok to continue -- advised ATC continued on course. Human performance: again cockpit interruptions just have to be vigilant and fly airplane, especially aircraft with no automatic level off on autoplt.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: THE FLC WAS IN THE PROCESS OF LEVELING AT THEIR ASSIGNED FL290 WHEN THE FLT ATTENDANT ADVISED OF A PAX HAVING A SEIZURE. THE DISTR CAUSED THE PF TO EXCEED HIS ALT BY 200 FT.
Narrative: CLRED TO FL330 AT FL FL230 IN A CLB. ATC ADVISED US TO MAINTAIN FL290 AS WE WERE LEVELING AT FL290. APPROX RATE OF CLB 300 FPM. FLT ATTENDANT ENTERED COCKPIT AND ADVISED PAX IN SEAT XX WAS HAVING SEIZURE. OVERSHOT ALT APPROX 200 FT, RETURNED TO FL290. I WRITE THIS BECAUSE ATC ASKED OUR ALT. 'WANTED TO MAKE SURE YOU WERE LEVELING AT FL290.' CONFIRMED LEVEL FL290, ADVISED ATC OF POSSIBLE DEV DUE TO PAX ILLNESS, REQUESTED TO REMAIN FL290. DOCTOR ONBOARD ADVISED OK TO CONTINUE -- ADVISED ATC CONTINUED ON COURSE. HUMAN PERFORMANCE: AGAIN COCKPIT INTERRUPTIONS JUST HAVE TO BE VIGILANT AND FLY AIRPLANE, ESPECIALLY ACFT WITH NO AUTO LEVEL OFF ON AUTOPLT.
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.