Air carrier large transport flight crew overshoots assigned altitude in climb.

Attributes
ACN	145726
Time
Date	199005
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : bwz
State Reference	NJ
Altitude	msl bound lower : 17000 msl bound upper : 17400
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zny
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	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 : 120 flight time total : 11000 flight time type : 600
ASRS Report	145726
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
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:

We departed lga for cvg. First officer was hand flying the aircraft. We were climbing to an assigned altitude of 17000 ft MSL. New york departure had us on a vector at the above stated position. We were cleared direct bwz VOR and the bwz 250 right to paark intersection and flight plan route. Bwz was not on the filed flight plan and thus not in the FMC route. The first officer was attempting to hand fly the aircraft and monitor my operation of the FMC. Since the clearance was given so close to bwz, and it required a considerable turn of about 50 to 60, quick action was required. The NAVAID button was pushed on the EFIS, then I entered bwz in the FMC. As the first officer was making the turn, I performed all programming functions since the first officer was hand flying. In his effort to monitor FMC programming and fly, he exceeded 17000 ft by 400 ft. The controller quickly called this to our attention and we immediately returned to 17000 ft. No traffic conflict was apparent nor was any mention by ATC.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR LGT FLT CREW OVERSHOOTS ASSIGNED ALT IN CLIMB.

Narrative: WE DEPARTED LGA FOR CVG. FO WAS HAND FLYING THE ACFT. WE WERE CLBING TO AN ASSIGNED ALT OF 17000 FT MSL. NEW YORK DEP HAD US ON A VECTOR AT THE ABOVE STATED POS. WE WERE CLRED DIRECT BWZ VOR AND THE BWZ 250 R TO PAARK INTXN AND FLT PLAN RTE. BWZ WAS NOT ON THE FILED FLT PLAN AND THUS NOT IN THE FMC RTE. THE FO WAS ATTEMPTING TO HAND FLY THE ACFT AND MONITOR MY OPERATION OF THE FMC. SINCE THE CLRNC WAS GIVEN SO CLOSE TO BWZ, AND IT REQUIRED A CONSIDERABLE TURN OF ABOUT 50 TO 60, QUICK ACTION WAS REQUIRED. THE NAVAID BUTTON WAS PUSHED ON THE EFIS, THEN I ENTERED BWZ IN THE FMC. AS THE FO WAS MAKING THE TURN, I PERFORMED ALL PROGRAMMING FUNCTIONS SINCE THE FO WAS HAND FLYING. IN HIS EFFORT TO MONITOR FMC PROGRAMMING AND FLY, HE EXCEEDED 17000 FT BY 400 FT. THE CTLR QUICKLY CALLED THIS TO OUR ATTN AND WE IMMEDIATELY RETURNED TO 17000 FT. NO TFC CONFLICT WAS APPARENT NOR WAS ANY MENTION BY ATC.

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.