Large transport overshot assigned altitude.

Attributes
ACN	163380
Time
Date	199011
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : ewr
State Reference	NJ
Altitude	msl bound lower : 8000 msl bound upper : 8470
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dawn
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	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
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors enroute airway : n90
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 184 flight time total : 16000 flight time type : 748
ASRS Report	163380
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	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Copilot was flying this leg and climbing to assigned altitude 8000'. I, as captain, inadvertently pressed to/GA thrust mode instead of climb power for autothrottles and was correcting the mistake by recycling all MCP switches. Copilot used high power setting with high rate of climb when I noticed he was climbing through 8000' with no attempt at leveling off. I told him to level at 8000' but he climbed to 8470' MSL and descended to 8000'. He said he thought our assigned altitude was 18000' not 8000'. I had him level at 8000' and queried ATC about our assigned altitude; they informed me it was 8000' as I had set on the altitude reminder. Had I not been busy with the thrust mode control problem, I could/would have given our sopa 2000' and 1000' warning to level off altitude. Being busy with the high tech features of the large transport detract from monitoring basic flight instruments. I wish I could say 'it won't happen again.' this large transport has a very faint aural altitude warning system and a high rate of climb because of its power. Things happen fast.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: LGT OVERSHOT ASSIGNED ALT.

Narrative: COPLT WAS FLYING THIS LEG AND CLBING TO ASSIGNED ALT 8000'. I, AS CAPT, INADVERTENTLY PRESSED TO/GA THRUST MODE INSTEAD OF CLB PWR FOR AUTOTHROTTLES AND WAS CORRECTING THE MISTAKE BY RECYCLING ALL MCP SWITCHES. COPLT USED HIGH PWR SETTING WITH HIGH RATE OF CLB WHEN I NOTICED HE WAS CLBING THROUGH 8000' WITH NO ATTEMPT AT LEVELING OFF. I TOLD HIM TO LEVEL AT 8000' BUT HE CLBED TO 8470' MSL AND DSNDED TO 8000'. HE SAID HE THOUGHT OUR ASSIGNED ALT WAS 18000' NOT 8000'. I HAD HIM LEVEL AT 8000' AND QUERIED ATC ABOUT OUR ASSIGNED ALT; THEY INFORMED ME IT WAS 8000' AS I HAD SET ON THE ALT REMINDER. HAD I NOT BEEN BUSY WITH THE THRUST MODE CTL PROB, I COULD/WOULD HAVE GIVEN OUR SOPA 2000' AND 1000' WARNING TO LEVEL OFF ALT. BEING BUSY WITH THE HIGH TECH FEATURES OF THE LGT DETRACT FROM MONITORING BASIC FLT INSTRUMENTS. I WISH I COULD SAY 'IT WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN.' THIS LGT HAS A VERY FAINT AURAL ALT WARNING SYS AND A HIGH RATE OF CLB BECAUSE OF ITS PWR. THINGS HAPPEN FAST.

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.