Narrative:

Departing runway 1L at sfo. Clearance to 15000, at 3 DME, ATC assigned a 230 degree heading. In the left turn at about 2600 MSL, TCASII TA sounded. At about 3000 MSL, TCASII gave the command to descend, which we complied. Once clear of traffic, we continued our climb to 15000, with a 2000 FPM climb. ATC then called traffic and assigned 4000 for traffic. This was about 3600 MSL when assigned. Approaching 4000 MSL the TCASII again sounded with a TA (3 targets) were on the TCASII screen. My attention was diverted from the assigned altitude of 4000 MSL, by the TCASII warning, and an overshoot of 280 ft occurred above the assigned 4000 altitude. The TCASII seems to be a good system. On numerous times the TCASII system sounded at the most critical portion of the flight (i.e., approaching runways with parallel runways, at 500 ft TA with commands to climb or descend, on the sna (19R) deep cutback (noise abatement) on departure. Less than 1000 ft, in air traffic area where visual contact is made, for visual separation, etc...). The warnings are very distracting at the critical portion of flight where compliance is required. Pilot experience has to locate targets, and take the best action, with the least amount of possible violations, with safety being first.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR MLG ALTDEV OVERSHOT CLRNC ALT. RPTR SAYS DISTR BY TCASII TA.

Narrative: DEPARTING RWY 1L AT SFO. CLRNC TO 15000, AT 3 DME, ATC ASSIGNED A 230 DEG HDG. IN THE L TURN AT ABOUT 2600 MSL, TCASII TA SOUNDED. AT ABOUT 3000 MSL, TCASII GAVE THE COMMAND TO DSND, WHICH WE COMPLIED. ONCE CLR OF TFC, WE CONTINUED OUR CLB TO 15000, WITH A 2000 FPM CLB. ATC THEN CALLED TFC AND ASSIGNED 4000 FOR TFC. THIS WAS ABOUT 3600 MSL WHEN ASSIGNED. APCHING 4000 MSL THE TCASII AGAIN SOUNDED WITH A TA (3 TARGETS) WERE ON THE TCASII SCREEN. MY ATTN WAS DIVERTED FROM THE ASSIGNED ALT OF 4000 MSL, BY THE TCASII WARNING, AND AN OVERSHOOT OF 280 FT OCCURRED ABOVE THE ASSIGNED 4000 ALT. THE TCASII SEEMS TO BE A GOOD SYS. ON NUMEROUS TIMES THE TCASII SYS SOUNDED AT THE MOST CRITICAL PORTION OF THE FLT (I.E., APCHING RWYS WITH PARALLEL RWYS, AT 500 FT TA WITH COMMANDS TO CLB OR DSND, ON THE SNA (19R) DEEP CUTBACK (NOISE ABATEMENT) ON DEP. LESS THAN 1000 FT, IN ATA WHERE VISUAL CONTACT IS MADE, FOR VISUAL SEPARATION, ETC...). THE WARNINGS ARE VERY DISTRACTING AT THE CRITICAL PORTION OF FLT WHERE COMPLIANCE IS REQUIRED. PLT EXPERIENCE HAS TO LOCATE TARGETS, AND TAKE THE BEST ACTION, WITH THE LEAST AMOUNT OF POSSIBLE VIOLATIONS, WITH SAFETY BEING FIRST.

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.