Narrative:

We were cleared by ZAU to cross pivot at 10000 ft which I set and PF acknowledged in our altitude alert window. PF was descending. I was off frequency momentarily getting ATIS and making PA announcement. When I got back in loop, everything seemed stabilized (level and on speed). Just then, ZAU called us and said maintain 10000 ft. I checked and we were level at 11000 ft just a couple mi west of pivot (our crossing point). PF said she didn't realize she had leveled off at 11000 ft and we immediately descended to 10000 ft. Upon completion of the flight we had a thorough discussion about how this happened and what SOP breakdowns (if any) would have prevented it. Obviously PF did not get a 1000 ft to go call from me (I was off and busy), or from the aircraft system which should have raised a flag about leveling off at 11000 ft. She also said that she was distracted with the airspeed trying to maintain 320 KTS. We don't believe this caused any conflict, or was a problem with ZAU, but we know how it occurred and how to be alert to not allowing such occurrences.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AFTER RECEIVING AN ALT XING RESTR, THE PF INADVERTENTLY LEVELED 1000 FT ABOVE THE ASSIGNED ALT. THE PNF WAS GETTING THE ATIS AND MAKING A PA AND FAILED TO NOTICE THE ALTDEV. ARTCC RADAR CTLR INTERVENED.

Narrative: WE WERE CLRED BY ZAU TO CROSS PIVOT AT 10000 FT WHICH I SET AND PF ACKNOWLEDGED IN OUR ALT ALERT WINDOW. PF WAS DSNDING. I WAS OFF FREQ MOMENTARILY GETTING ATIS AND MAKING PA ANNOUNCEMENT. WHEN I GOT BACK IN LOOP, EVERYTHING SEEMED STABILIZED (LEVEL AND ON SPD). JUST THEN, ZAU CALLED US AND SAID MAINTAIN 10000 FT. I CHKED AND WE WERE LEVEL AT 11000 FT JUST A COUPLE MI W OF PIVOT (OUR XING POINT). PF SAID SHE DIDN'T REALIZE SHE HAD LEVELED OFF AT 11000 FT AND WE IMMEDIATELY DSNDED TO 10000 FT. UPON COMPLETION OF THE FLT WE HAD A THOROUGH DISCUSSION ABOUT HOW THIS HAPPENED AND WHAT SOP BREAKDOWNS (IF ANY) WOULD HAVE PREVENTED IT. OBVIOUSLY PF DID NOT GET A 1000 FT TO GO CALL FROM ME (I WAS OFF AND BUSY), OR FROM THE ACFT SYS WHICH SHOULD HAVE RAISED A FLAG ABOUT LEVELING OFF AT 11000 FT. SHE ALSO SAID THAT SHE WAS DISTRACTED WITH THE AIRSPD TRYING TO MAINTAIN 320 KTS. WE DON'T BELIEVE THIS CAUSED ANY CONFLICT, OR WAS A PROB WITH ZAU, BUT WE KNOW HOW IT OCCURRED AND HOW TO BE ALERT TO NOT ALLOWING SUCH OCCURRENCES.

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.