Air carrier has altitude deviation while looking for traffic.

Attributes
ACN	183369
Time
Date	199107
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : slc
State Reference	UT
Altitude	msl bound lower : 8000 msl bound upper : 8350
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : slc tower : slc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	climbout : takeoff climbout : initial
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 140 flight time total : 8700 flight time type : 30
ASRS Report	183369
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : required legal separation non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera
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:

After departing runway 16R at slc we were given radar vectors to turn heading approximately 290 degree. We were cleared to maintain 8000 ft MSL altitude. At approximately 6000 ft MSL the approach controller called traffic (an medium large transport) at our 1-2 O'clock position, coming toward us. At 9000 ft MSL we had contact with the medium large transport visually. While maintaining visual contact with the medium large transport our altitude went to 8350 ft MSL. The approach controller asked us to descend immediately to 8000 ft MSL. We promptly complied while at the same time reported having the traffic in sight. The traffic passed approximately 2-3 mi behind us. I believe a vector heading further to the west would have allowed greater separation between aircraft and a safer environment within the air traffic area.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR HAS ALT DEV WHILE LOOKING FOR TFC.

Narrative: AFTER DEPARTING RWY 16R AT SLC WE WERE GIVEN RADAR VECTORS TO TURN HDG APPROX 290 DEG. WE WERE CLRED TO MAINTAIN 8000 FT MSL ALT. AT APPROX 6000 FT MSL THE APCH CTLR CALLED TFC (AN MLG) AT OUR 1-2 O'CLOCK POS, COMING TOWARD US. AT 9000 FT MSL WE HAD CONTACT WITH THE MLG VISUALLY. WHILE MAINTAINING VISUAL CONTACT WITH THE MLG OUR ALT WENT TO 8350 FT MSL. THE APCH CTLR ASKED US TO DSND IMMEDIATELY TO 8000 FT MSL. WE PROMPTLY COMPLIED WHILE AT THE SAME TIME RPTED HAVING THE TFC IN SIGHT. THE TFC PASSED APPROX 2-3 MI BEHIND US. I BELIEVE A VECTOR HDG FURTHER TO THE W WOULD HAVE ALLOWED GREATER SEPARATION BTWN ACFT AND A SAFER ENVIRONMENT WITHIN THE ATA.

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.