Altitude deviation. Excursion from assigned altitude.

Attributes
ACN	126947
Time
Date	198910
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : rdu
State Reference	NC
Altitude	msl bound lower : 10000 msl bound upper : 10500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : rdu tower : lga
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Small Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turboprop Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	arrival other enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 230 flight time total : 3200 flight time type : 1500
ASRS Report	126947
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course none taken : insufficient time
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Copilot flying--airspeed 245 KTS. Copilot was inexperienced and didn't realize how sensitive controls are at this speed. ATC instructed a turn from 180 right to 270 degrees. I looked down at this time for rdu approach plate. Heard copilot say 'oh no.' looked up and he was pushing wheel over because he was 500' off assigned altitude. We got back to 10000' quickly. There was no call or response from ATC. I asked copilot what had happened, and he said he was preoccupied with wrong 'unprimary flight instrument.'

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ALT DEVIATION. EXCURSION FROM ASSIGNED ALT.

Narrative: COPLT FLYING--AIRSPD 245 KTS. COPLT WAS INEXPERIENCED AND DIDN'T REALIZE HOW SENSITIVE CONTROLS ARE AT THIS SPD. ATC INSTRUCTED A TURN FROM 180 RIGHT TO 270 DEGS. I LOOKED DOWN AT THIS TIME FOR RDU APCH PLATE. HEARD COPLT SAY 'OH NO.' LOOKED UP AND HE WAS PUSHING WHEEL OVER BECAUSE HE WAS 500' OFF ASSIGNED ALT. WE GOT BACK TO 10000' QUICKLY. THERE WAS NO CALL OR RESPONSE FROM ATC. I ASKED COPLT WHAT HAD HAPPENED, AND HE SAID HE WAS PREOCCUPIED WITH WRONG 'UNPRIMARY FLT INSTRUMENT.'

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.