Narrative:

After takeoff to the south from sea flying the ELMAAA2 SID, I was the captain and PNF. Cleared to 9000 ft, first officer flying. While performing the after takeoff checklist, departure called, the first officer answered and reset the altitude alert to 11000 ft. After completing the checklist I asked first officer about call and altitude change. Nearing 9000 ft the TCASII gave a 'traffic' alert and I checked the screen. We were now going through 9000 ft and traffic was at 12 O'clock and 1900 ft above. I ordered a level off and return to 9000 ft until clear. Altitude peaked at 9400 ft and departure called to confirm our level off at 9000 ft with traffic at 12 O'clock and 11000 ft. This is a classic case of miscom with no back ups for 2 reasons. For a 2 pilot crew, our company policy is for the PNF to read the checklist aloud and announced complete. This must be above 3000 ft (where our takeoff profile ends) and below 10000 ft (where we speed up). While talking aloud I didn't hear, departure. Without the third crew member any time the PNF has duties to perform, the PNF is solo! Controllers when busy may hear a readback, but don't listen to it because they are already thinking about the next problem. And they are busy at every major airport, all the time because of the hub and spoke schedules airlines have put in place since dereg!

Related reports:

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ALTDEV ALT EXCURSION.

Narrative: AFTER TKOF TO THE S FROM SEA FLYING THE ELMAAA2 SID, I WAS THE CAPT AND PNF. CLRED TO 9000 FT, FO FLYING. WHILE PERFORMING THE AFTER TKOF CHKLIST, DEP CALLED, THE FO ANSWERED AND RESET THE ALT ALERT TO 11000 FT. AFTER COMPLETING THE CHKLIST I ASKED FO ABOUT CALL AND ALT CHANGE. NEARING 9000 FT THE TCASII GAVE A 'TFC' ALERT AND I CHKED THE SCREEN. WE WERE NOW GOING THROUGH 9000 FT AND TFC WAS AT 12 O'CLOCK AND 1900 FT ABOVE. I ORDERED A LEVEL OFF AND RETURN TO 9000 FT UNTIL CLR. ALT PEAKED AT 9400 FT AND DEP CALLED TO CONFIRM OUR LEVEL OFF AT 9000 FT WITH TFC AT 12 O'CLOCK AND 11000 FT. THIS IS A CLASSIC CASE OF MISCOM WITH NO BACK UPS FOR 2 REASONS. FOR A 2 PLT CREW, OUR COMPANY POLICY IS FOR THE PNF TO READ THE CHKLIST ALOUD AND ANNOUNCED COMPLETE. THIS MUST BE ABOVE 3000 FT (WHERE OUR TKOF PROFILE ENDS) AND BELOW 10000 FT (WHERE WE SPD UP). WHILE TALKING ALOUD I DIDN'T HEAR, DEP. WITHOUT THE THIRD CREW MEMBER ANY TIME THE PNF HAS DUTIES TO PERFORM, THE PNF IS SOLO! CTLRS WHEN BUSY MAY HEAR A READBACK, BUT DON'T LISTEN TO IT BECAUSE THEY ARE ALREADY THINKING ABOUT THE NEXT PROBLEM. AND THEY ARE BUSY AT EVERY MAJOR ARPT, ALL THE TIME BECAUSE OF THE HUB AND SPOKE SCHEDULES AIRLINES HAVE PUT IN PLACE SINCE DEREG!

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.