Narrative:

Under the control of ZAU we were given a climb clearance from 4000 ft MSL up to 6000 ft MSL and told to contact sbn approach. On initial contact with sbn I looked at the altimeter and reported on at 7000 ft MSL (our final cruising altitude). Sbn acknowledged our check-on at 7000 ft and said nothing else. Approximately 3 mins later I noticed 60 set into the ADF, which we use as a reminder for our assigned altitude. We immediately noticed our altitude deviation, but remained at 7000 ft since ATC had not advised us to do otherwise. Contributing factors: first officer's failure to verify assigned altitude and captain's failure to make appropriate altitude callouts. Corrective actions: at the time of the altitude deviation captain was in the process of filling out company paperwork. From this point forward I will no longer divert my attention to non critical matters when in a critical phase of flight.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: E110 CREW OVERSHOT THEIR CLRED ALT ON CLBOUT.

Narrative: UNDER THE CTL OF ZAU WE WERE GIVEN A CLB CLRNC FROM 4000 FT MSL UP TO 6000 FT MSL AND TOLD TO CONTACT SBN APCH. ON INITIAL CONTACT WITH SBN I LOOKED AT THE ALTIMETER AND RPTED ON AT 7000 FT MSL (OUR FINAL CRUISING ALT). SBN ACKNOWLEDGED OUR CHK-ON AT 7000 FT AND SAID NOTHING ELSE. APPROX 3 MINS LATER I NOTICED 60 SET INTO THE ADF, WHICH WE USE AS A REMINDER FOR OUR ASSIGNED ALT. WE IMMEDIATELY NOTICED OUR ALTDEV, BUT REMAINED AT 7000 FT SINCE ATC HAD NOT ADVISED US TO DO OTHERWISE. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS: FO'S FAILURE TO VERIFY ASSIGNED ALT AND CAPT'S FAILURE TO MAKE APPROPRIATE ALT CALLOUTS. CORRECTIVE ACTIONS: AT THE TIME OF THE ALTDEV CAPT WAS IN THE PROCESS OF FILLING OUT COMPANY PAPERWORK. FROM THIS POINT FORWARD I WILL NO LONGER DIVERT MY ATTN TO NON CRITICAL MATTERS WHEN IN A CRITICAL PHASE OF FLT.

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.