Large transport overshot assigned altitude.

Attributes
ACN	105163
Time
Date	198902
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : ood
State Reference	NJ
Altitude	msl bound lower : 23000 msl bound upper : 25000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : cfi pilot : instrument pilot : flight engineer pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 15000 flight time type : 10000
ASRS Report	105163
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was hand flying aircraft in climb to FL230. While passing through about FL220 I began passenger seat belt announcement (turning off seat belt sign). During this time I also asked first officer to request a final cruise altitude of FL250. I was making the required seat belt announcement and not listening to ATC when I glanced back at the altitude reminder. It had FL250 dialed in, so I continued climbing through FL230 to FL250, and leveled the aircraft. Center noticed the deviation and we descended back to FL230. On checking with first officer he stated that when he requested FL250 as a final he understood the controller to say ok or something similar. First officer incorrectly took this to mean it was ok to climb to FL250. Non standard phraseology and lack of pilot cross checking (one pilot out of loop) were the causes of this overshoot. In the future I will not make passenger announcements while changing altitudes. First officer was instructed to use and listen for standard phraseology in the future and that any nonstandard transmission should be double checked with ATC.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: LGT OVERSHOT ASSIGNED ALT.

Narrative: I WAS HAND FLYING ACFT IN CLB TO FL230. WHILE PASSING THROUGH ABOUT FL220 I BEGAN PAX SEAT BELT ANNOUNCEMENT (TURNING OFF SEAT BELT SIGN). DURING THIS TIME I ALSO ASKED F/O TO REQUEST A FINAL CRUISE ALT OF FL250. I WAS MAKING THE REQUIRED SEAT BELT ANNOUNCEMENT AND NOT LISTENING TO ATC WHEN I GLANCED BACK AT THE ALT REMINDER. IT HAD FL250 DIALED IN, SO I CONTINUED CLBING THROUGH FL230 TO FL250, AND LEVELED THE ACFT. CENTER NOTICED THE DEVIATION AND WE DSNDED BACK TO FL230. ON CHKING WITH F/O HE STATED THAT WHEN HE REQUESTED FL250 AS A FINAL HE UNDERSTOOD THE CTLR TO SAY OK OR SOMETHING SIMILAR. F/O INCORRECTLY TOOK THIS TO MEAN IT WAS OK TO CLB TO FL250. NON STANDARD PHRASEOLOGY AND LACK OF PLT CROSS CHKING (ONE PLT OUT OF LOOP) WERE THE CAUSES OF THIS OVERSHOOT. IN THE FUTURE I WILL NOT MAKE PAX ANNOUNCEMENTS WHILE CHANGING ALTS. F/O WAS INSTRUCTED TO USE AND LISTEN FOR STANDARD PHRASEOLOGY IN THE FUTURE AND THAT ANY NONSTANDARD XMISSION SHOULD BE DOUBLE CHKED WITH ATC.

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.