Altitude deviation. Overshoot in climb.

Attributes
ACN	145139
Time
Date	199005
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : dtw airport : det
State Reference	MI
Altitude	msl bound lower : 13000 msl bound upper : 15000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : dtw artcc : zbw
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	departure other enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 155 flight time total : 3780 flight time type : 380
ASRS Report	145139
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Deviation

Narrative:

We had just taken off from detroit city airport, runway 33. After departure, we given a series of new altitudes, headings, and a speed restriction of 250 KTS, the last clearance being a 230 degree heading (I think) and a climb to 15000'. The previous assigned altitude I believe was 8000'. The controller assigned us the altitude of 15000'. The captain, PNF, read back 15000' and set 15000' in the mode control panel altitude window. I verified aloud 'one five thousand'. After the altitude was set, as per company procedure. I also heard 15000' from the controller and didn't question the 15000' assignment. Climbing out of 14000', the controller asked us to verify climbing to 13000'. We said negative, cleared to 15000'. We were told to immediately to descend to 13000'. We asked if there was a conflict, and were told that there was none. From a human factors standpoint, as the PF in an aircraft that climbs over 4000 FPM, I can't catch every radio transmission from ATC, while trying to change altitudes in 3000' increments and constantly turning to new headings. I have my hands full trying to 'aviate'.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ALT DEVIATION. OVERSHOOT IN CLB.

Narrative: WE HAD JUST TAKEN OFF FROM DETROIT CITY ARPT, RWY 33. AFTER DEP, WE GIVEN A SERIES OF NEW ALTS, HDGS, AND A SPD RESTRICTION OF 250 KTS, THE LAST CLRNC BEING A 230 DEG HDG (I THINK) AND A CLB TO 15000'. THE PREVIOUS ASSIGNED ALT I BELIEVE WAS 8000'. THE CTLR ASSIGNED US THE ALT OF 15000'. THE CAPT, PNF, READ BACK 15000' AND SET 15000' IN THE MODE CTL PANEL ALT WINDOW. I VERIFIED ALOUD 'ONE FIVE THOUSAND'. AFTER THE ALT WAS SET, AS PER COMPANY PROC. I ALSO HEARD 15000' FROM THE CTLR AND DIDN'T QUESTION THE 15000' ASSIGNMENT. CLBING OUT OF 14000', THE CTLR ASKED US TO VERIFY CLBING TO 13000'. WE SAID NEGATIVE, CLRED TO 15000'. WE WERE TOLD TO IMMEDIATELY TO DSND TO 13000'. WE ASKED IF THERE WAS A CONFLICT, AND WERE TOLD THAT THERE WAS NONE. FROM A HUMAN FACTORS STANDPOINT, AS THE PF IN AN ACFT THAT CLBS OVER 4000 FPM, I CAN'T CATCH EVERY RADIO XMISSION FROM ATC, WHILE TRYING TO CHANGE ALTS IN 3000' INCREMENTS AND CONSTANTLY TURNING TO NEW HDGS. I HAVE MY HANDS FULL TRYING TO 'AVIATE'.

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