An air carrier medium large transport crew overshot its assigned altitude on initial climb out.

Attributes
ACN	244925
Time
Date	199306
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : den
State Reference	CO
Altitude	msl bound lower : 8000 msl bound upper : 8400
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : den
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	climbout : initial
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : atp pilot : cfi pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 220 flight time total : 21000 flight time type : 4500
ASRS Report	244925
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 7000
ASRS Report	244924
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

On departure our level off altitude was 8000 ft. As we approached 8000, the PF attempted to reduce the rate of climb with the vertical speed knob right at altitude hold point. He inadvertently hit the IAS button. The aircraft climbed through 8000 and was stopped between 8300 and 8500 ft. The PF then returned the aircraft to 8000 ft. I feel that our company stresses automatic flight too much and neglects the basics of manual operation. The captain was new and was confused by the autoplt and did not revert to manual operation to stop the climb. I also believe that the company's altimeter procedures lead to this type of problem. Below 10000 we use QFE and the one altimeter with MSL is out of both pilots' scan. I was in the process of resetting my altimeter at the time of the altitude deviation.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN ACR MLG CREW OVERSHOT ITS ASSIGNED ALT ON INITIAL CLBOUT.

Narrative: ON DEP OUR LEVEL OFF ALT WAS 8000 FT. AS WE APCHED 8000, THE PF ATTEMPTED TO REDUCE THE RATE OF CLB WITH THE VERT SPD KNOB RIGHT AT ALT HOLD POINT. HE INADVERTENTLY HIT THE IAS BUTTON. THE ACFT CLBED THROUGH 8000 AND WAS STOPPED BTWN 8300 AND 8500 FT. THE PF THEN RETURNED THE ACFT TO 8000 FT. I FEEL THAT OUR COMPANY STRESSES AUTO FLT TOO MUCH AND NEGLECTS THE BASICS OF MANUAL OP. THE CAPT WAS NEW AND WAS CONFUSED BY THE AUTOPLT AND DID NOT REVERT TO MANUAL OP TO STOP THE CLB. I ALSO BELIEVE THAT THE COMPANY'S ALTIMETER PROCS LEAD TO THIS TYPE OF PROB. BELOW 10000 WE USE QFE AND THE ONE ALTIMETER WITH MSL IS OUT OF BOTH PLTS' SCAN. I WAS IN THE PROCESS OF RESETTING MY ALTIMETER AT THE TIME OF THE ALTDEV.

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.