Narrative:

During my initial operating experience (IOE) for my initial captain rating with air carrier, the line check/airman (lca) and I had reviewed the loupe to departure from sjc rather carefully during cruise inbound to sjc because of my inexperience with the flight mode computer (FMC) and the combined 'magic' of our electronic medium large transport. We decided that vertical navigation (VNAV) would not accept the 200 KT speed restriction of the sfo TCA, minimum speed available was 210 KT. Thus, VNAV was not available until we passed the sjc 005 degree right or were above 6000 AGL. So level change would be required so that we could select the 200 KT speed requirement. Altitude requirements of the departure were included with the software program for the departure and were indicated on the program. We could select the required altitudes on the mode control panel (MCP) as necessary. We went over everything carefully not only because I was new to the airplane and the 'magic' but we were scheduled to have an FAA air carrier inspector on board to give me his blessing or whatever. During the receipt of the sudden clearance and cockpit setup, we placed the cleared altitude in the MCP. This is a normal procedure. We should have placed 5000, our first altitude restriction, on the loupe departure. Remember, we were not using VNAV which would have protected us with the programmed restrictions. Departing sjc minus the FAA aci, we proceeded along the magenta line of the loupe program. The medium large transport climbs very well and the rate is 3-3500 FPM at our takeoff weight. Out of about 4800 AGL the lca rather abruptly and forcefully mentioned/shouted 'level off, 5000'.' well, reaction time and a 3000+ climb rate, leveled us at about 5300'. ATC was immediate with a clearance to 6000' as we just leveled and were planning a return to 5000'.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ALT DEVIATION OVERSHOOT IN CLIMB.

Narrative: DURING MY INITIAL OPERATING EXPERIENCE (IOE) FOR MY INITIAL CAPT RATING WITH ACR, THE LINE CHECK/AIRMAN (LCA) AND I HAD REVIEWED THE LOUPE TO DEP FROM SJC RATHER CAREFULLY DURING CRUISE INBND TO SJC BECAUSE OF MY INEXPERIENCE WITH THE FLT MODE COMPUTER (FMC) AND THE COMBINED 'MAGIC' OF OUR ELECTRONIC MLG. WE DECIDED THAT VERTICAL NAV (VNAV) WOULD NOT ACCEPT THE 200 KT SPEED RESTRICTION OF THE SFO TCA, MINIMUM SPEED AVAILABLE WAS 210 KT. THUS, VNAV WAS NOT AVAILABLE UNTIL WE PASSED THE SJC 005 DEG R OR WERE ABOVE 6000 AGL. SO LEVEL CHANGE WOULD BE REQUIRED SO THAT WE COULD SELECT THE 200 KT SPEED REQUIREMENT. ALT REQUIREMENTS OF THE DEP WERE INCLUDED WITH THE SOFTWARE PROGRAM FOR THE DEP AND WERE INDICATED ON THE PROGRAM. WE COULD SELECT THE REQUIRED ALTS ON THE MODE CONTROL PANEL (MCP) AS NECESSARY. WE WENT OVER EVERYTHING CAREFULLY NOT ONLY BECAUSE I WAS NEW TO THE AIRPLANE AND THE 'MAGIC' BUT WE WERE SCHEDULED TO HAVE AN FAA AIR CARRIER INSPECTOR ON BOARD TO GIVE ME HIS BLESSING OR WHATEVER. DURING THE RECEIPT OF THE SUDDEN CLRNC AND COCKPIT SETUP, WE PLACED THE CLRED ALT IN THE MCP. THIS IS A NORMAL PROC. WE SHOULD HAVE PLACED 5000, OUR FIRST ALT RESTRICTION, ON THE LOUPE DEP. REMEMBER, WE WERE NOT USING VNAV WHICH WOULD HAVE PROTECTED US WITH THE PROGRAMMED RESTRICTIONS. DEPARTING SJC MINUS THE FAA ACI, WE PROCEEDED ALONG THE MAGENTA LINE OF THE LOUPE PROGRAM. THE MLG CLIMBS VERY WELL AND THE RATE IS 3-3500 FPM AT OUR TKOF WEIGHT. OUT OF ABOUT 4800 AGL THE LCA RATHER ABRUPTLY AND FORCEFULLY MENTIONED/SHOUTED 'LEVEL OFF, 5000'.' WELL, REACTION TIME AND A 3000+ CLIMB RATE, LEVELED US AT ABOUT 5300'. ATC WAS IMMEDIATE WITH A CLRNC TO 6000' AS WE JUST LEVELED AND WERE PLANNING A RETURN TO 5000'.

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.