Narrative:

Deviated above assigned altitude by 400 ft. Aircraft was on initial climb out from dca. Initial assigned altitude was 2000 ft. Upon approaching 2000 ft we were assigned 3000 ft. Set 3000 ft in the altitude select widow and advised at 1000 ft. The captain called for setting climb power and after takeoff/cruise checklist. While setting power and completing the checklist, at approximately 2500 ft we were given an additional step-up to 4000 ft. I set 4000 ft, continued the checklist. At 3000 ft I advised a 1000 ft to go and then changed frequencys as we were handed off to another departure controller. After checking in I heard the altitude alert warning as we had ascended through 4100 ft. I advised the captain it was an assigned 4000 ft. He pulled power back to idle and leveled at 4400 ft and then descended back to 4000 ft. No mention was made by ATC. Due to the high workload and frequency of altitude changes and vectors I feel better altitude calls such as out of 3000 ft for 4000 ft to emphasize altitude assignment to prevent altitude deviation. Vigilance is always required on the part of the PNF.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLC OF AN LTT TURBO-PROP OVERSHOT CLB ALT DUE TO THE FLYING CAPT'S MISUNDERSTANDING OF THE ASSIGNED ALT.

Narrative: DEVIATED ABOVE ASSIGNED ALT BY 400 FT. ACFT WAS ON INITIAL CLBOUT FROM DCA. INITIAL ASSIGNED ALT WAS 2000 FT. UPON APCHING 2000 FT WE WERE ASSIGNED 3000 FT. SET 3000 FT IN THE ALT SELECT WIDOW AND ADVISED AT 1000 FT. THE CAPT CALLED FOR SETTING CLB PWR AND AFTER TKOF/CRUISE CHKLIST. WHILE SETTING PWR AND COMPLETING THE CHKLIST, AT APPROX 2500 FT WE WERE GIVEN AN ADDITIONAL STEP-UP TO 4000 FT. I SET 4000 FT, CONTINUED THE CHKLIST. AT 3000 FT I ADVISED A 1000 FT TO GO AND THEN CHANGED FREQS AS WE WERE HANDED OFF TO ANOTHER DEP CTLR. AFTER CHKING IN I HEARD THE ALT ALERT WARNING AS WE HAD ASCENDED THROUGH 4100 FT. I ADVISED THE CAPT IT WAS AN ASSIGNED 4000 FT. HE PULLED PWR BACK TO IDLE AND LEVELED AT 4400 FT AND THEN DSNDED BACK TO 4000 FT. NO MENTION WAS MADE BY ATC. DUE TO THE HIGH WORKLOAD AND FREQ OF ALT CHANGES AND VECTORS I FEEL BETTER ALT CALLS SUCH AS OUT OF 3000 FT FOR 4000 FT TO EMPHASIZE ALT ASSIGNMENT TO PREVENT ALTDEV. VIGILANCE IS ALWAYS REQUIRED ON THE PART OF THE PNF.

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.