Air carrier large transport altitude deviation overshot. Captain claims it is difficult to maintain ...

Attributes
ACN	189030
Time
Date	199109
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : swl
State Reference	MD
Altitude	msl bound lower : 26000 msl bound upper : 26700
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude cruise other
Route In Use	enroute airway : j174
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 220 flight time total : 18000 flight time type : 1000
ASRS Report	189030
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : published procedure non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	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:

While climbing to assigned FL260 crew discussing whether aircraft with old engines and 160000 gross weight could get to flight planned FL280 on this +15 degree day. Airline's oldest and most disagreeable senior flight attendant burst into cockpit and began complaining about full load of passenger and if we 'wanted to eat we had better listen up so she could take our orders or forever hold our peace'. ATC called with a frequency change to 135.27. Due to disruption of flight attendant in cockpit it took a min or so to get frequency change in. When I called ATC I realized we were going through 26700. Initiated immediate descent to FL260. During descent cockpit pass rider advised we had not reset altimeters from 30.24 to 29.92 (300 ft). ATC advised he saw 26700 ft. I advised 'we forgot to reset altimeters and were now level at FL260'. TCASII equipped aircraft showed no traffic within 12 NM area. We never heard altitude alert. (Flight engineer then advised me that altitude alert tone was written up as very weak!) I as captain have had a hard time with all crew members (including myself) trying to maintain cockpit discipline due to the demise/dismembering of my airline. The first officer, so and pass rider all were being furloughed, I may be going to another airline and this my last trip!

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR LGT ALT DEV OVERSHOT. CAPT CLAIMS IT IS DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN COCKPIT DISCIPLINE BECAUSE AIRLINE IS BEING SOLD OFF.

Narrative: WHILE CLBING TO ASSIGNED FL260 CREW DISCUSSING WHETHER ACFT WITH OLD ENGS AND 160000 GROSS WT COULD GET TO FLT PLANNED FL280 ON THIS +15 DEG DAY. AIRLINE'S OLDEST AND MOST DISAGREEABLE SENIOR FLT ATTENDANT BURST INTO COCKPIT AND BEGAN COMPLAINING ABOUT FULL LOAD OF PAX AND IF WE 'WANTED TO EAT WE HAD BETTER LISTEN UP SO SHE COULD TAKE OUR ORDERS OR FOREVER HOLD OUR PEACE'. ATC CALLED WITH A FREQ CHANGE TO 135.27. DUE TO DISRUPTION OF FLT ATTENDANT IN COCKPIT IT TOOK A MIN OR SO TO GET FREQ CHANGE IN. WHEN I CALLED ATC I REALIZED WE WERE GOING THROUGH 26700. INITIATED IMMEDIATE DSCNT TO FL260. DURING DSCNT COCKPIT PASS RIDER ADVISED WE HAD NOT RESET ALTIMETERS FROM 30.24 TO 29.92 (300 FT). ATC ADVISED HE SAW 26700 FT. I ADVISED 'WE FORGOT TO RESET ALTIMETERS AND WERE NOW LEVEL AT FL260'. TCASII EQUIPPED ACFT SHOWED NO TFC WITHIN 12 NM AREA. WE NEVER HEARD ALT ALERT. (FLT ENGINEER THEN ADVISED ME THAT ALT ALERT TONE WAS WRITTEN UP AS VERY WEAK!) I AS CAPT HAVE HAD A HARD TIME WITH ALL CREW MEMBERS (INCLUDING MYSELF) TRYING TO MAINTAIN COCKPIT DISCIPLINE DUE TO THE DEMISE/DISMEMBERING OF MY AIRLINE. THE FO, SO AND PASS RIDER ALL WERE BEING FURLOUGHED, I MAY BE GOING TO ANOTHER AIRLINE AND THIS MY LAST TRIP!

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.

Air carrier large transport altitude deviation overshot. Captain claims it is difficult to maintain cockpit discipline because airline is being sold off.