A lear 25 flight crew failed to maintain assigned altitude while looking for traffic.

Attributes
ACN	432470
Time
Date	199903
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : las.vortac
State Reference	NV
Altitude	msl bound lower : 7000 msl bound upper : 7500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : charter
Make Model Name	Learjet 25
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Flight Phase	climbout : initial
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : charter
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 260 flight time total : 6800 flight time type : 400
ASRS Report	432470
Person 2
Affiliation	company : charter
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment : altitude alert other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to original clearance
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

We were cleared to 7000 ft. The first officer was flying the airplane. I was working the radios. The tower called out crossing traffic at 8000 ft. The bell sounded for 1000 ft (till 7000 ft). I called it out and looked for the traffic. I spotted the traffic and then heard the bell again (300 ft over 7000 ft). The first officer was watching the traffic and not paying attention. We immediately got back to altitude (7000 ft). There was no conflict with the traffic it had already passed us. We topped in altitude at 7500 ft before we got back to 7000 ft. It was poor crew coordination. One person needs to be flying the plane at all times.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A LEAR 25 FLC FAILED TO MAINTAIN ASSIGNED ALT WHILE LOOKING FOR TFC.

Narrative: WE WERE CLRED TO 7000 FT. THE FO WAS FLYING THE AIRPLANE. I WAS WORKING THE RADIOS. THE TWR CALLED OUT XING TFC AT 8000 FT. THE BELL SOUNDED FOR 1000 FT (TILL 7000 FT). I CALLED IT OUT AND LOOKED FOR THE TFC. I SPOTTED THE TFC AND THEN HEARD THE BELL AGAIN (300 FT OVER 7000 FT). THE FO WAS WATCHING THE TFC AND NOT PAYING ATTN. WE IMMEDIATELY GOT BACK TO ALT (7000 FT). THERE WAS NO CONFLICT WITH THE TFC IT HAD ALREADY PASSED US. WE TOPPED IN ALT AT 7500 FT BEFORE WE GOT BACK TO 7000 FT. IT WAS POOR CREW COORD. ONE PERSON NEEDS TO BE FLYING THE PLANE AT ALL TIMES.

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.