Flight on DC9 assigned FL290 climbed to FL300 then back down to FL290.

Attributes
ACN	412160
Time
Date	199808
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : far
State Reference	ND
Altitude	msl bound lower : 29000 msl bound upper : 30000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zmp tower : dfw
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	DC-9 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude cruise other descent other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 10000 flight time type : 1000
ASRS Report	412160
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified 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:

ATC assigned altitude of FL290. Captain was flying. Just prior to leveloff, first officer left ATC communications to make a PA to the passenger. I became distraction and leveled off. I very quickly noticed we had leveled off at FL300 and quickly descended to FL290.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLT ON DC9 ASSIGNED FL290 CLBED TO FL300 THEN BACK DOWN TO FL290.

Narrative: ATC ASSIGNED ALT OF FL290. CAPT WAS FLYING. JUST PRIOR TO LEVELOFF, FO LEFT ATC COMS TO MAKE A PA TO THE PAX. I BECAME DISTR AND LEVELED OFF. I VERY QUICKLY NOTICED WE HAD LEVELED OFF AT FL300 AND QUICKLY DSNDED TO FL290.

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.