B737-300 with ZDC may have exceeded altitude clearance during WX deviation.

Attributes
ACN	624091
Time
Date	200407
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	intersection : bross
State Reference	MD
Altitude	msl single value : 23000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Weather Elements	Turbulence Thunderstorm
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-300
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
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 : 20000 flight time type : 6000
ASRS Report	624091
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 12000 flight time type : 6000
ASRS Report	624092
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot inflight encounter : weather non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : took evasive action
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Weather ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	Weather

Narrative:

Air carrier #1 dca-bos. Approaching bross intersection on climb out, we noticed WX on our radar in the direction of the turn on J42 after bross. The controller on 125.45 was very busy and we couldn't get a word in to ask for deviation. The controller frequently didn't wait for pilots to respond resulting in blocked xmissions and repeats. Climbing through FL235 we were told to stop climb and turn left for traffic. At the time we were off the airway trying to avoid WX and attempting to communicate with ATC for deviation to no avail. We stopped climb and followed instructions to avoid traffic conflict and relayed our desire to avoid WX. Flight continued to bos.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737-300 WITH ZDC MAY HAVE EXCEEDED ALT CLRNC DURING WX DEV.

Narrative: ACR #1 DCA-BOS. APCHING BROSS INTXN ON CLBOUT, WE NOTICED WX ON OUR RADAR IN THE DIRECTION OF THE TURN ON J42 AFTER BROSS. THE CTLR ON 125.45 WAS VERY BUSY AND WE COULDN'T GET A WORD IN TO ASK FOR DEV. THE CTLR FREQUENTLY DIDN'T WAIT FOR PLTS TO RESPOND RESULTING IN BLOCKED XMISSIONS AND REPEATS. CLBING THROUGH FL235 WE WERE TOLD TO STOP CLB AND TURN L FOR TFC. AT THE TIME WE WERE OFF THE AIRWAY TRYING TO AVOID WX AND ATTEMPTING TO COMMUNICATE WITH ATC FOR DEV TO NO AVAIL. WE STOPPED CLB AND FOLLOWED INSTRUCTIONS TO AVOID TFC CONFLICT AND RELAYED OUR DESIRE TO AVOID WX. FLT CONTINUED TO BOS.

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.