Narrative:

Changed runways because of wind change caused by rainshowers to the northwest of the airport. While in position and hold on runway 1, decided we could make an easterly departure. Our clearance was changed from the northwest departure and climb to 5000 ft, to a right turn 090 degrees and climb to 2000 ft. Immediately after takeoff, turned toward 090 degrees, and given another turn to 110 degree heading to avoid the prohibited area. As rolling out on the 110 degree heading, tower gave us a turn to 040 degrees, back toward the WX and the frequency change to departure control. It was during the turn and the frequency change (I had my head down changing the frequencys) that we went above 2000 ft by about 400 ft before returning to 2000 ft. Obviously we were concerned with flying into the rainshowers, and the last second clearance change were factors, but the most distracting things were the second heading change resulting in a roll from a 25 degree right bank to a 25 degree left bank, and the frequency change just prior to 2000 ft. The controller seemed more worried about the prohibited area and other airspace than turning us into the rainshowers.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CAPT OF A DC9 OVERSHOT INTERMEDIATE ALT AFTER TKOF AT DCA DUE TO HVY WORKLOAD OF COMPLYING WITH DEP CTLR'S LAST MIN CHANGES.

Narrative: CHANGED RWYS BECAUSE OF WIND CHANGE CAUSED BY RAINSHOWERS TO THE NW OF THE ARPT. WHILE IN POS AND HOLD ON RWY 1, DECIDED WE COULD MAKE AN EASTERLY DEP. OUR CLRNC WAS CHANGED FROM THE NW DEP AND CLB TO 5000 FT, TO A R TURN 090 DEGS AND CLB TO 2000 FT. IMMEDIATELY AFTER TKOF, TURNED TOWARD 090 DEGS, AND GIVEN ANOTHER TURN TO 110 DEG HDG TO AVOID THE PROHIBITED AREA. AS ROLLING OUT ON THE 110 DEG HDG, TWR GAVE US A TURN TO 040 DEGS, BACK TOWARD THE WX AND THE FREQ CHANGE TO DEP CTL. IT WAS DURING THE TURN AND THE FREQ CHANGE (I HAD MY HEAD DOWN CHANGING THE FREQS) THAT WE WENT ABOVE 2000 FT BY ABOUT 400 FT BEFORE RETURNING TO 2000 FT. OBVIOUSLY WE WERE CONCERNED WITH FLYING INTO THE RAINSHOWERS, AND THE LAST SECOND CLRNC CHANGE WERE FACTORS, BUT THE MOST DISTRACTING THINGS WERE THE SECOND HDG CHANGE RESULTING IN A ROLL FROM A 25 DEG R BANK TO A 25 DEG L BANK, AND THE FREQ CHANGE JUST PRIOR TO 2000 FT. THE CTLR SEEMED MORE WORRIED ABOUT THE PROHIBITED AREA AND OTHER AIRSPACE THAN TURNING US INTO THE RAINSHOWERS.

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.