An air carrier large transport flight overshot its assigned altitude when the first officer failed to use the autoplt altitude hold system as the crew reviewed some flight documents.

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Attributes
ACN	403370
Time
Date	199805
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : aml
State Reference	VA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 26000 msl bound upper : 26300
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude cruise other
Route In Use	enroute airway : j149
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 210 flight time total : 17000 flight time type : 6100
ASRS Report	403370
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 flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : became reoriented flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Overshot leveloff at FL260 by 300 ft. I and the copilot (PF) were discussing why we were filed at FL260 when flight normally would be filed at FL310 or FL350. ATC gave us a frequency change (probably to 133.27 or 119.52). We were looking at the wind at altitude information we had. We allowed ourselves to become distraction from the primary job. Should have leveled, engaged autoplt (if not already in use) and then had our discussion. P.south. Wasn't going to file this report, but then figured by taking the time, I might remember my lesson learned a little longer.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN ACR LGT FLT OVERSHOT ITS ASSIGNED ALT WHEN THE FO FAILED TO USE THE AUTOPLT ALT HOLD SYS AS THE CREW REVIEWED SOME FLT DOCUMENTS.

Narrative: OVERSHOT LEVELOFF AT FL260 BY 300 FT. I AND THE COPLT (PF) WERE DISCUSSING WHY WE WERE FILED AT FL260 WHEN FLT NORMALLY WOULD BE FILED AT FL310 OR FL350. ATC GAVE US A FREQ CHANGE (PROBABLY TO 133.27 OR 119.52). WE WERE LOOKING AT THE WIND AT ALT INFO WE HAD. WE ALLOWED OURSELVES TO BECOME DISTR FROM THE PRIMARY JOB. SHOULD HAVE LEVELED, ENGAGED AUTOPLT (IF NOT ALREADY IN USE) AND THEN HAD OUR DISCUSSION. P.S. WASN'T GOING TO FILE THIS RPT, BUT THEN FIGURED BY TAKING THE TIME, I MIGHT REMEMBER MY LESSON LEARNED A LITTLE LONGER.

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.