Air carrier aircraft altitude overshot during departure climb.

Attributes
ACN	204088
Time
Date	199203
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : ont
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 6000 msl bound upper : 6300
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : ont
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	enroute airway : ont
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 210 flight time total : 6000 flight time type : 4500
ASRS Report	204088
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 50 flight time total : 3600 flight time type : 35
ASRS Report	204097
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
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:

Departing ontario airport we were given instructions from ontario departure to level off at 6000 ft due to traffic at 12 O'clock. The first officer was flying the aircraft. As we were climbing through about 4500 ft at a rate of about 3500 FPM, the first officer engaged the autoplt. At about the same time, the TCASII had informed us that there was indeed traffic at 12 O'clock. As we were climbing through 5000 ft, I noticed that the autoplt status display indicated that the autoplt had acquired the level off altitude of 6000 ft. I was locating the traffic at 12 O'clock visually and came back inside the cockpit and noticed that the autoplt failed to capture the designated altitude of 6000 ft. I immediately took control of the aircraft as we were passing 6000 ft. Fortunately we were now climbing at a rate of 1000 FPM and was able to stop the climb and begin an immediate descent prior to climbing through 6300 ft. We were level at 6000 feet in a matter of 3-4 seconds. There were several causes to this situation. As a new captain flying with a brand new first officer, I should have kept a closer eye on my first officer's flying. We also discussed engaging the autoplt earlier in high traffic areas so both pilots can scan inside and outside the cockpit

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR ACFT ALT OVERSHOT DURING DEP CLB.

Narrative: DEPARTING ONTARIO ARPT WE WERE GIVEN INSTRUCTIONS FROM ONTARIO DEP TO LEVEL OFF AT 6000 FT DUE TO TFC AT 12 O'CLOCK. THE FO WAS FLYING THE ACFT. AS WE WERE CLBING THROUGH ABOUT 4500 FT AT A RATE OF ABOUT 3500 FPM, THE FO ENGAGED THE AUTOPLT. AT ABOUT THE SAME TIME, THE TCASII HAD INFORMED US THAT THERE WAS INDEED TFC AT 12 O'CLOCK. AS WE WERE CLBING THROUGH 5000 FT, I NOTICED THAT THE AUTOPLT STATUS DISPLAY INDICATED THAT THE AUTOPLT HAD ACQUIRED THE LEVEL OFF ALT OF 6000 FT. I WAS LOCATING THE TFC AT 12 O'CLOCK VISUALLY AND CAME BACK INSIDE THE COCKPIT AND NOTICED THAT THE AUTOPLT FAILED TO CAPTURE THE DESIGNATED ALT OF 6000 FT. I IMMEDIATELY TOOK CTL OF THE ACFT AS WE WERE PASSING 6000 FT. FORTUNATELY WE WERE NOW CLBING AT A RATE OF 1000 FPM AND WAS ABLE TO STOP THE CLB AND BEGIN AN IMMEDIATE DSCNT PRIOR TO CLBING THROUGH 6300 FT. WE WERE LEVEL AT 6000 FEET IN A MATTER OF 3-4 SECONDS. THERE WERE SEVERAL CAUSES TO THIS SITUATION. AS A NEW CAPT FLYING WITH A BRAND NEW FO, I SHOULD HAVE KEPT A CLOSER EYE ON MY FO'S FLYING. WE ALSO DISCUSSED ENGAGING THE AUTOPLT EARLIER IN HIGH TFC AREAS SO BOTH PLTS CAN SCAN INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE COCKPIT

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.