Captain of a DC9 overshot assigned altitude during climb due to watching for TA.

Attributes
ACN	449251
Time
Date	199909
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : odf.vortac
State Reference	MN
Altitude	msl bound lower : 26000 msl bound upper : 26250
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zmp.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	DC-9 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Route In Use	enroute airway : j30.airway
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 110 flight time total : 10500 flight time type : 1200
ASRS Report	449251
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 5000 flight time type : 120
ASRS Report	449350
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : altimeter other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to assigned altitude
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

While leveling out at FL260, ATC advised of traffic at FL270. While I was searching for traffic, aircraft crept up to 250 ft above FL260. First officer called out altitude, I returned to FL260. 4TH leg of day nearing 10TH hour of duty. Fly aircraft first and then look for traffic.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CAPT OF A DC9 OVERSHOT ASSIGNED ALT DURING CLB DUE TO WATCHING FOR TA.

Narrative: WHILE LEVELING OUT AT FL260, ATC ADVISED OF TFC AT FL270. WHILE I WAS SEARCHING FOR TFC, ACFT CREPT UP TO 250 FT ABOVE FL260. FO CALLED OUT ALT, I RETURNED TO FL260. 4TH LEG OF DAY NEARING 10TH HR OF DUTY. FLY ACFT FIRST AND THEN LOOK FOR TFC.

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.