<< >> NASA ASRS Report 409000, July 1998

Flight crew of charter LR35 climbs above assigned altitude. Both flight crew and ATC notice the error.

Attributes
ACN	409000
Time
Date	199807
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : flo
State Reference	SC
Altitude	msl bound lower : 29000 msl bound upper : 30000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Learjet 35
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 130 flight time total : 6500 flight time type : 1500
ASRS Report	409000
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera 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:

We were established in a climb to our final altitude of FL310. I was flying with a new first officer and was explaining the operation of the GPS. Through approximately FL260 center revised our altitude to FL290. We both confirmed this new altitude limit. However, in the process of explaining the GPS I continued the climb to FL300. At this point I noticed the error and descended immediately to FL290. Center questioned our altitude but we didn't appear to be in conflict with other traffic. Some of the factors that led to this excursion: 1) my preoccupation with the GPS at an inappropriate time, 2) the first officer's inexperience, and 3) the aural altitude alerter was inoperative. This deviation could have been avoided if I would have delayed training to a less demanding time, such as level cruise altitude. Also, although I confirmed FL290, my mind was still set at our previous altitude and filed altitude of FL310.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLC OF CHARTER LR35 CLBS ABOVE ASSIGNED ALT. BOTH FLC AND ATC NOTICE THE ERROR.

Narrative: WE WERE ESTABLISHED IN A CLB TO OUR FINAL ALT OF FL310. I WAS FLYING WITH A NEW FO AND WAS EXPLAINING THE OP OF THE GPS. THROUGH APPROX FL260 CTR REVISED OUR ALT TO FL290. WE BOTH CONFIRMED THIS NEW ALT LIMIT. HOWEVER, IN THE PROCESS OF EXPLAINING THE GPS I CONTINUED THE CLB TO FL300. AT THIS POINT I NOTICED THE ERROR AND DSNDED IMMEDIATELY TO FL290. CTR QUESTIONED OUR ALT BUT WE DIDN'T APPEAR TO BE IN CONFLICT WITH OTHER TFC. SOME OF THE FACTORS THAT LED TO THIS EXCURSION: 1) MY PREOCCUPATION WITH THE GPS AT AN INAPPROPRIATE TIME, 2) THE FO'S INEXPERIENCE, AND 3) THE AURAL ALT ALERTER WAS INOP. THIS DEV COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED IF I WOULD HAVE DELAYED TRAINING TO A LESS DEMANDING TIME, SUCH AS LEVEL CRUISE ALT. ALSO, ALTHOUGH I CONFIRMED FL290, MY MIND WAS STILL SET AT OUR PREVIOUS ALT AND FILED ALT OF FL310.

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.