Flight crew overshot assigned altitude of FL250 when first officer's altimeter was not reset to 29 p...

Attributes
ACN	397450
Time
Date	199803
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : dca
State Reference	DC
Altitude	msl bound lower : 25000 msl bound upper : 25250
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B757 Undifferentiated or Other Model
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
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-90 Series (DC-9-90) Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	other other : other pilot : atp pilot : commercial pilot : flight engineer pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 14000 flight time type : 1500
ASRS Report	397450
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course
Consequence	Other
Miss Distance	horizontal : 42000 vertical : 750
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error

Narrative:

We took off from iad with an altimeter setting of 29.52. It was the copilot's leg. We were climbing to FL250. At FL180, I reset my altimeter to 29.92 while talking on the PA to the passenger. The copilot, new to the copilot seat, failed to reset his altimeter. At FL240 I called that altitude and noted 1000 ft to leveloff. At FL251 I told him to stop his climb. He did not react fast enough and then at FL252 he disconnected the autoplt and leveled off at FL252.5 and then returned to FL250. The center noted our deviation. Because I was talking on the PA, passing FL180, the climb checklist was not verbalized. I shall no longer do anything in the cockpit prior to transition altitude. One thing at a time when it comes to transition altitude -- both climbing and descending.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLC OVERSHOT ASSIGNED ALT OF FL250 WHEN FO'S ALTIMETER WAS NOT RESET TO 29 PT 92 AT FL180.

Narrative: WE TOOK OFF FROM IAD WITH AN ALTIMETER SETTING OF 29.52. IT WAS THE COPLT'S LEG. WE WERE CLBING TO FL250. AT FL180, I RESET MY ALTIMETER TO 29.92 WHILE TALKING ON THE PA TO THE PAX. THE COPLT, NEW TO THE COPLT SEAT, FAILED TO RESET HIS ALTIMETER. AT FL240 I CALLED THAT ALT AND NOTED 1000 FT TO LEVELOFF. AT FL251 I TOLD HIM TO STOP HIS CLB. HE DID NOT REACT FAST ENOUGH AND THEN AT FL252 HE DISCONNECTED THE AUTOPLT AND LEVELED OFF AT FL252.5 AND THEN RETURNED TO FL250. THE CTR NOTED OUR DEV. BECAUSE I WAS TALKING ON THE PA, PASSING FL180, THE CLB CHKLIST WAS NOT VERBALIZED. I SHALL NO LONGER DO ANYTHING IN THE COCKPIT PRIOR TO TRANSITION ALT. ONE THING AT A TIME WHEN IT COMES TO TRANSITION ALT -- BOTH CLBING AND DSNDING.

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.

Flight crew overshot assigned altitude of FL250 when first officer's altimeter was not reset to 29 pt 92 at FL180.