An air carrier DC9-32 pilot flew through his assigned altitude.

Attributes
ACN	356810
Time
Date	199612
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : mxt airport : mdw
State Reference	IL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3000 msl bound upper : 3700
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : ord tower : mdw
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	DC-9 30
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude cruise other
Route In Use	departure : noise abatement departure other departure sid : sid
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : flight engineer pilot : instrument pilot : atp pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 176 flight time total : 16400 flight time type : 10000
ASRS Report	356810
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : published procedure non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course flight crew : became reoriented
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

We were cleared off runway 31C on the mdw 4 departure with a turn to 220 degrees. The procedure prohibits any turns prior to 1300 ft, but requires that they be completed within 4 mi. Initial altitude is 3000 ft. As I was rolling out of the turn to 220 degrees and completing the noise abatement procedure, I checked the altimeter just as the altitude alert chime sounded. I had expected this to be the warning leaving 2000 ft for 3000 ft, but was instead the alert for departing 3000 ft. By the time I realized this fact, reduced the power, pushed the nose over to stop the climb, and initiated a 1000 FPM descent. We had reached an altitude of about 3500-3700 ft. (The rate of climb had been close to 2000 FPM.) as all of this was transpiring, the tower switched us over to departure control. We checked in with departure just as we were leveling at 3000 ft, and were immediately cleared to a higher altitude.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN ACR DC9-32 PLT FLEW THROUGH HIS ASSIGNED ALT.

Narrative: WE WERE CLRED OFF RWY 31C ON THE MDW 4 DEP WITH A TURN TO 220 DEGS. THE PROC PROHIBITS ANY TURNS PRIOR TO 1300 FT, BUT REQUIRES THAT THEY BE COMPLETED WITHIN 4 MI. INITIAL ALT IS 3000 FT. AS I WAS ROLLING OUT OF THE TURN TO 220 DEGS AND COMPLETING THE NOISE ABATEMENT PROC, I CHKED THE ALTIMETER JUST AS THE ALT ALERT CHIME SOUNDED. I HAD EXPECTED THIS TO BE THE WARNING LEAVING 2000 FT FOR 3000 FT, BUT WAS INSTEAD THE ALERT FOR DEPARTING 3000 FT. BY THE TIME I REALIZED THIS FACT, REDUCED THE PWR, PUSHED THE NOSE OVER TO STOP THE CLB, AND INITIATED A 1000 FPM DSCNT. WE HAD REACHED AN ALT OF ABOUT 3500-3700 FT. (THE RATE OF CLB HAD BEEN CLOSE TO 2000 FPM.) AS ALL OF THIS WAS TRANSPIRING, THE TWR SWITCHED US OVER TO DEP CTL. WE CHKED IN WITH DEP JUST AS WE WERE LEVELING AT 3000 FT, AND WERE IMMEDIATELY CLRED TO A HIGHER ALT.

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.