Altitude overshoot by A319 flight crew during high altitude departure climb.

Attributes
ACN	484760
Time
Date	200009
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : zbw.artcc
State Reference	NH
Altitude	msl bound lower : 24000 msl bound upper : 24600
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dawn
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zbw.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	A319
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other other vortac
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude climbout other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 15000 flight time type : 150
ASRS Report	484760
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
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 climbing to FL240. The altitude had been captured and I thought we had leveled off. Just then we were told to cross 30 mi north of a fix at FL200. I thought we were level at FL240, but we were in a slight climb. So when we set FL200 in the FMC panel the aircraft reverted to vertical speed of 600 FPM climb. We had climbed to FL244 when I noticed it and stopped it at FL246. There was no conflict, I don't think the controller ever noticed. In training it was suggested that any time we touch the MCP we point and announce with the flight mode enunciator says. I now do this and do believe if it was policy rather than suggested, it might help keep this from happening to someone else.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ALT OVERSHOOT BY A319 FLC DURING HIGH ALT DEP CLB.

Narrative: WE WERE CLBING TO FL240. THE ALT HAD BEEN CAPTURED AND I THOUGHT WE HAD LEVELED OFF. JUST THEN WE WERE TOLD TO CROSS 30 MI N OF A FIX AT FL200. I THOUGHT WE WERE LEVEL AT FL240, BUT WE WERE IN A SLIGHT CLB. SO WHEN WE SET FL200 IN THE FMC PANEL THE ACFT REVERTED TO VERT SPD OF 600 FPM CLB. WE HAD CLBED TO FL244 WHEN I NOTICED IT AND STOPPED IT AT FL246. THERE WAS NO CONFLICT, I DON'T THINK THE CTLR EVER NOTICED. IN TRAINING IT WAS SUGGESTED THAT ANY TIME WE TOUCH THE MCP WE POINT AND ANNOUNCE WITH THE FLT MODE ENUNCIATOR SAYS. I NOW DO THIS AND DO BELIEVE IF IT WAS POLICY RATHER THAN SUGGESTED, IT MIGHT HELP KEEP THIS FROM HAPPENING TO SOMEONE ELSE.

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.