A DC10-30 mistakes heading command for altitude command and climbs above assigned altitude.

Attributes
ACN	414760
Time
Date	199809
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : kre airport : osa
State Reference	FO
Altitude	msl bound lower : 12000 msl bound upper : 12500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : osa
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	DC-10 30
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	departure other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 7500 flight time type : 3000
ASRS Report	414760
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 50 flight time total : 17000 flight time type : 180
ASRS Report	414571
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

First officer had altitude alert inoperative. ATC gave us 270 direct sac. Captain read back same. He turned to deal with so regarding an elevator feel control channel inoperative. I thought he meant altitude 270 (flight level) not heading. Through 12300 ft, ATC said maintain 12000 ft. I stopped at 12500 ft and returned to 12000 ft. It was confusing and altitude alert was inoperative -- no help.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A DC10-30 MISTAKES HDG COMMAND FOR ALT COMMAND AND CLBS ABOVE ASSIGNED ALT.

Narrative: FO HAD ALT ALERT INOP. ATC GAVE US 270 DIRECT SAC. CAPT READ BACK SAME. HE TURNED TO DEAL WITH SO REGARDING AN ELEVATOR FEEL CTL CHANNEL INOP. I THOUGHT HE MEANT ALT 270 (FLT LEVEL) NOT HDG. THROUGH 12300 FT, ATC SAID MAINTAIN 12000 FT. I STOPPED AT 12500 FT AND RETURNED TO 12000 FT. IT WAS CONFUSING AND ALT ALERT WAS INOP -- NO HELP.

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.