Altitude busts (2).

Attributes
ACN	108229
Time
Date	198904
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : mem
State Reference	TN
Altitude	msl bound lower : 26000 msl bound upper : 26300
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zme
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude cruise other
Route In Use	enroute airway : zme
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 5000 flight time type : 2000
ASRS Report	108229
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Controller (frequency 126.45) asked what our speed was (255 KTS) out of FL220, due to company traffic overtaking us. The controller was so overworked that I was unable to tell him that we would have to slow our climb to speed up to the requested 290 KTS that he wanted. At FL240 we slowed our climb to 500 FPM. When the controller realized this he wanted to know why we stopped our climb at FL240. He had cleared another aircraft to that altitude. We told him that we were unable to climb and fly fast at the same time. With so much pilot/controller talking the captain overflew FL260 by 300'. I noticed the mistake passing FL260 and informed the captain. The altitude was corrected within 15 seconds. When the controller turned us over to another mem frequency I told the controller to take a break and have a good day. This distracted the captain again, thinking that this had made the controller mad, even though it was meant to be a cheerful goodbye. With the captain distracted again we flew through FL310 by 300' for about 15 seconds. Correction: 1) controller was too personal. 2) controller was way overworked and needed some help. 3) allow the pilots a backup radio frequency to tell the controller what the pilot will be doing (sometimes we cannot get a word in at all). 4) one person fly, the other pilot work radio.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ALT BUSTS (2).

Narrative: CTLR (FREQ 126.45) ASKED WHAT OUR SPD WAS (255 KTS) OUT OF FL220, DUE TO COMPANY TFC OVERTAKING US. THE CTLR WAS SO OVERWORKED THAT I WAS UNABLE TO TELL HIM THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO SLOW OUR CLB TO SPD UP TO THE REQUESTED 290 KTS THAT HE WANTED. AT FL240 WE SLOWED OUR CLB TO 500 FPM. WHEN THE CTLR REALIZED THIS HE WANTED TO KNOW WHY WE STOPPED OUR CLB AT FL240. HE HAD CLRED ANOTHER ACFT TO THAT ALT. WE TOLD HIM THAT WE WERE UNABLE TO CLB AND FLY FAST AT THE SAME TIME. WITH SO MUCH PLT/CTLR TALKING THE CAPT OVERFLEW FL260 BY 300'. I NOTICED THE MISTAKE PASSING FL260 AND INFORMED THE CAPT. THE ALT WAS CORRECTED WITHIN 15 SECS. WHEN THE CTLR TURNED US OVER TO ANOTHER MEM FREQ I TOLD THE CTLR TO TAKE A BREAK AND HAVE A GOOD DAY. THIS DISTRACTED THE CAPT AGAIN, THINKING THAT THIS HAD MADE THE CTLR MAD, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS MEANT TO BE A CHEERFUL GOODBYE. WITH THE CAPT DISTRACTED AGAIN WE FLEW THROUGH FL310 BY 300' FOR ABOUT 15 SECS. CORRECTION: 1) CTLR WAS TOO PERSONAL. 2) CTLR WAS WAY OVERWORKED AND NEEDED SOME HELP. 3) ALLOW THE PLTS A BACKUP RADIO FREQ TO TELL THE CTLR WHAT THE PLT WILL BE DOING (SOMETIMES WE CANNOT GET A WORD IN AT ALL). 4) ONE PERSON FLY, THE OTHER PLT WORK RADIO.

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.