Air carrier large transport altitude deviation overshot during climb.

Attributes
ACN	158459
Time
Date	199009
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : lal
State Reference	FL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 23000 msl bound upper : 23200
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zma tracon : n90
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 cruise other descent other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : flight engineer pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 5500 flight time type : 135
ASRS Report	158459
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 120 flight time total : 23000
ASRS Report	158349
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe altitude deviation : overshoot
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:

During climb out while in contact with miami center, we were given a 360 degree vector to intercept the lal 060 degree right. At this time we were passing FL190 for FL230. We were then instructed to cross 10 mi east of lal at 13000'. The captain then reset the mode control panel altitude to 13000' and began to program the FMS to meet the crossing restriction while still in the climb. A few mins later miami center asked us what our altitude was. The captain noted 23200' and initiated a descent to 13000'. Miami again asked what altitude we were cleared to. I responded FL230. They then asked what was the highest altitude indicated . I responded, '23200'.' they reported that our transponder indicated 23400'. Then they wanted to know our present altitude. I said 'passing 17500' for 13000'.' no further comment was made by either party concerning this incident. Earlier in the flight, while in contact with fort meyer's departure control they reported that they were not receiving our mode C. I cycled the switch and it seemed to correct the problem. This whole incident was most probably just a malfunction of the transponder. However, miami center was quite excited when they thought we were 1400' above our assigned altitude.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR LGT ALT DEVIATION OVERSHOT DURING CLIMB.

Narrative: DURING CLBOUT WHILE IN CONTACT WITH MIAMI CTR, WE WERE GIVEN A 360 DEG VECTOR TO INTERCEPT THE LAL 060 DEG R. AT THIS TIME WE WERE PASSING FL190 FOR FL230. WE WERE THEN INSTRUCTED TO CROSS 10 MI E OF LAL AT 13000'. THE CAPT THEN RESET THE MODE CTL PANEL ALT TO 13000' AND BEGAN TO PROGRAM THE FMS TO MEET THE XING RESTRICTION WHILE STILL IN THE CLB. A FEW MINS LATER MIAMI CTR ASKED US WHAT OUR ALT WAS. THE CAPT NOTED 23200' AND INITIATED A DSNT TO 13000'. MIAMI AGAIN ASKED WHAT ALT WE WERE CLRED TO. I RESPONDED FL230. THEY THEN ASKED WHAT WAS THE HIGHEST ALT INDICATED . I RESPONDED, '23200'.' THEY RPTED THAT OUR XPONDER INDICATED 23400'. THEN THEY WANTED TO KNOW OUR PRESENT ALT. I SAID 'PASSING 17500' FOR 13000'.' NO FURTHER COMMENT WAS MADE BY EITHER PARTY CONCERNING THIS INCIDENT. EARLIER IN THE FLT, WHILE IN CONTACT WITH FORT MEYER'S DEP CTL THEY RPTED THAT THEY WERE NOT RECEIVING OUR MODE C. I CYCLED THE SWITCH AND IT SEEMED TO CORRECT THE PROB. THIS WHOLE INCIDENT WAS MOST PROBABLY JUST A MALFUNCTION OF THE XPONDER. HOWEVER, MIAMI CTR WAS QUITE EXCITED WHEN THEY THOUGHT WE WERE 1400' ABOVE OUR ASSIGNED ALT.

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.