CL65 crew had an altitude excursion on climb out from ord.

Attributes
ACN	428240
Time
Date	199902
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : ord.airport
State Reference	IL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 5000 msl bound upper : 5500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Weather Elements	Snow
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : c90.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Challenger CL604
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other other vortac
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	departure : on vectors departure sid : ns
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 140 flight time total : 5900 flight time type : 140
ASRS Report	428240
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : commercial pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 250 flight time total : 2300 flight time type : 300
ASRS Report	428879
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance non adherence : company policies non adherence : published procedure non adherence : far
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment : altitude alert
Resolutory Action	flight crew : overrode automation flight crew : returned to original clearance
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

We departed ord off of runway 32L at taxiway T10 with a clearance of 'runway heading to 5000 ft.' we were very light so our climb rate was 3000-3500 FPM. Passing through about 3000 ft, we were switched from tower to departure. Prior to checking in with departure, we got a distraction which took my attention from monitoring the aircraft (I was the PF). The autoplt did not capture 5000 ft and continued to climb. I realized it did not capture at about 5100 ft, and our altitude peaked at just under 5500 ft. Prior to a rapid return to 5000 ft, there was no other traffic to cause a conflict, and the event was unmentioned by ATC. It's a good reminder of how important it is for one pilot to constantly monitor what the aircraft is doing -- especially when things are happening so quickly.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CL65 CREW HAD AN ALT EXCURSION ON CLBOUT FROM ORD.

Narrative: WE DEPARTED ORD OFF OF RWY 32L AT TXWY T10 WITH A CLRNC OF 'RWY HDG TO 5000 FT.' WE WERE VERY LIGHT SO OUR CLB RATE WAS 3000-3500 FPM. PASSING THROUGH ABOUT 3000 FT, WE WERE SWITCHED FROM TWR TO DEP. PRIOR TO CHKING IN WITH DEP, WE GOT A DISTR WHICH TOOK MY ATTN FROM MONITORING THE ACFT (I WAS THE PF). THE AUTOPLT DID NOT CAPTURE 5000 FT AND CONTINUED TO CLB. I REALIZED IT DID NOT CAPTURE AT ABOUT 5100 FT, AND OUR ALT PEAKED AT JUST UNDER 5500 FT. PRIOR TO A RAPID RETURN TO 5000 FT, THERE WAS NO OTHER TFC TO CAUSE A CONFLICT, AND THE EVENT WAS UNMENTIONED BY ATC. IT'S A GOOD REMINDER OF HOW IMPORTANT IT IS FOR ONE PLT TO CONSTANTLY MONITOR WHAT THE ACFT IS DOING -- ESPECIALLY WHEN THINGS ARE HAPPENING SO QUICKLY.

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.