An atx pilot in a night operation climbs 500 ft above his assigned altitude when he presses the heading button in lieu of the altitude select button. D01, co.

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Attributes
ACN	468310
Time
Date	200003
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : d01.tracon
State Reference	CO
Altitude	msl bound lower : 10000 msl bound upper : 10500
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : d01.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	Small Transport, Low Wing, 2 Recip Eng
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	departure sid : plains
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 60 flight time total : 13000 flight time type : 1000
ASRS Report	468310
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : departure
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued advisory flight crew : returned to assigned altitude
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Environmental Factor Aircraft Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Departed den with an altitude clearance to 10000 ft. Climbing through about 9700 ft, I was given direct to epkee intersection. I was having trouble getting the fix programmed and tracking on the GPS, when the altitude came up. I pushed the autoplt button and saw the light come on. The controller advised me of my 10000 ft clearance, and I noticed I was at 10500 ft. I then realized I had pushed the heading button directly above the altitude button on the mode selector. Problem: I was so concerned with getting on course, that I did not verify that the autoplt had indeed captured the altitude and leveled off. I should practice what I preach -- make an action and verify that is what is happening.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN ATX PLT IN A NIGHT OP CLBS 500 FT ABOVE HIS ASSIGNED ALT WHEN HE PRESSES THE HDG BUTTON IN LIEU OF THE ALT SELECT BUTTON. D01, CO.

Narrative: DEPARTED DEN WITH AN ALT CLRNC TO 10000 FT. CLBING THROUGH ABOUT 9700 FT, I WAS GIVEN DIRECT TO EPKEE INTXN. I WAS HAVING TROUBLE GETTING THE FIX PROGRAMMED AND TRACKING ON THE GPS, WHEN THE ALT CAME UP. I PUSHED THE AUTOPLT BUTTON AND SAW THE LIGHT COME ON. THE CTLR ADVISED ME OF MY 10000 FT CLRNC, AND I NOTICED I WAS AT 10500 FT. I THEN REALIZED I HAD PUSHED THE HDG BUTTON DIRECTLY ABOVE THE ALT BUTTON ON THE MODE SELECTOR. PROB: I WAS SO CONCERNED WITH GETTING ON COURSE, THAT I DID NOT VERIFY THAT THE AUTOPLT HAD INDEED CAPTURED THE ALT AND LEVELED OFF. I SHOULD PRACTICE WHAT I PREACH -- MAKE AN ACTION AND VERIFY THAT IS WHAT IS HAPPENING.

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.