Narrative:

During departure with normal rate of climb (2000 FPM +/-), departure control inquired if we were following the standard instrument departure (newark #1), and what our altitude was. At this time it was noted that we were climbing thru 3500'. With reference to the SID page, the correct altitude was noted to be 2500'. The aircraft was flown back down to 2500' and departure and flight continued normally. The altitude warning was incorrectly set to 5000' so did not sound during this time. No further comments were made by the controller. It is felt that one cause of the excursion is the overly complicated SID page, with multiple instructions for each departure runway, multiple intersection fix depiction, and the runway 29 departure altitude (5000') being listed last, at the bottom of the text. Page (and procedures) should be simplified.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR MLG ALT DEVIATION OVERSHOT SID ALT LIMIT FLYING EWR ONE DEP.

Narrative: DURING DEPARTURE WITH NORMAL RATE OF CLIMB (2000 FPM +/-), DEP CTL INQUIRED IF WE WERE FOLLOWING THE STANDARD INSTRUMENT DEP (NEWARK #1), AND WHAT OUR ALT WAS. AT THIS TIME IT WAS NOTED THAT WE WERE CLIMBING THRU 3500'. WITH REFERENCE TO THE SID PAGE, THE CORRECT ALT WAS NOTED TO BE 2500'. THE ACFT WAS FLOWN BACK DOWN TO 2500' AND DEP AND FLT CONTINUED NORMALLY. THE ALT WARNING WAS INCORRECTLY SET TO 5000' SO DID NOT SOUND DURING THIS TIME. NO FURTHER COMMENTS WERE MADE BY THE CTLR. IT IS FELT THAT ONE CAUSE OF THE EXCURSION IS THE OVERLY COMPLICATED SID PAGE, WITH MULTIPLE INSTRUCTIONS FOR EACH DEP RWY, MULTIPLE INTXN FIX DEPICTION, AND THE RWY 29 DEP ALT (5000') BEING LISTED LAST, AT THE BOTTOM OF THE TEXT. PAGE (AND PROCEDURES) SHOULD BE SIMPLIFIED.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 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.