Altitude deviation altitude overshot.

Attributes
ACN	157101
Time
Date	199009
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : pom airport : ont
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 8000 msl bound upper : 8500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : ont
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude cruise other
Route In Use	departure other departure sid : sid
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 : 9000 flight time type : 6000
ASRS Report	157101
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 220 flight time total : 4100 flight time type : 1800
ASRS Report	157450
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : published procedure non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

On departure on pomona 4 departure we set 14000' in our altitude window. On the departure there is a intermediate level off altitude of 8000' until crossing the pomona VOR. While in the process of making the turn to intercept the outbnd right along with looking for traffic departure called out. We did not level off at 8000'. A frequency change to lax center was also at this time. Center brought it to our attention we were to level at eight. We were at 8500' climbing. He said no problem continue unrestricted climb to 14000'. I think the situation could have been avoided if the intermediate altitude was set. It is not company procedure to do so. It is only a technique used by some. At low gross weights, cool days, the aircraft performance require full attention to meet some SID requirements. Looking for traffic or other duties sometimes causes a situation like this to occur. Making use of the automated features of the medium large transport Y would have helped out. Our company choose to 'unplug' most of them and fly manually so as to be compatible with the medium large transport X.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ALT DEVIATION ALT OVERSHOT.

Narrative: ON DEP ON POMONA 4 DEP WE SET 14000' IN OUR ALT WINDOW. ON THE DEP THERE IS A INTERMEDIATE LEVEL OFF ALT OF 8000' UNTIL XING THE POMONA VOR. WHILE IN THE PROCESS OF MAKING THE TURN TO INTERCEPT THE OUTBND R ALONG WITH LOOKING FOR TFC DEP CALLED OUT. WE DID NOT LEVEL OFF AT 8000'. A FREQ CHANGE TO LAX CTR WAS ALSO AT THIS TIME. CTR BROUGHT IT TO OUR ATTN WE WERE TO LEVEL AT EIGHT. WE WERE AT 8500' CLBING. HE SAID NO PROB CONTINUE UNRESTRICTED CLB TO 14000'. I THINK THE SITUATION COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED IF THE INTERMEDIATE ALT WAS SET. IT IS NOT COMPANY PROC TO DO SO. IT IS ONLY A TECHNIQUE USED BY SOME. AT LOW GROSS WEIGHTS, COOL DAYS, THE ACFT PERFORMANCE REQUIRE FULL ATTN TO MEET SOME SID REQUIREMENTS. LOOKING FOR TFC OR OTHER DUTIES SOMETIMES CAUSES A SITUATION LIKE THIS TO OCCUR. MAKING USE OF THE AUTOMATED FEATURES OF THE MLG Y WOULD HAVE HELPED OUT. OUR COMPANY CHOOSE TO 'UNPLUG' MOST OF THEM AND FLY MANUALLY SO AS TO BE COMPATIBLE WITH THE MLG X.

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.