Cpr aircraft has altitude deviation in positive control area.

Attributes
ACN	256045
Time
Date	199311
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : dfw
State Reference	TX
Altitude	msl bound lower : 35000 msl bound upper : 35400
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zfw tower : atl
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Small Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 13700 flight time type : 2600
ASRS Report	256045
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : far non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified
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:

We were en route from houston to msp and had leveled off at FL350. One of our company engineers wanted to ride up front for a while, so he and the copilot changed seats. The boss requested to let engineer fly the plane. I explained the controls, turned off the autoplt and leg him fly. I was coaching him on heading and altitude control and he was doing ok. His wife came forward with a camera and wanted me to take his picture. I took the camera and she went back to her seat. I checked the aircraft attitude and heading and they looked good. I leaned back against my side window and took his picture. The next thing I heard the altitude alert go off. By the time I got back on the controls the altimeter showed 400 ft above cruise altitude and climbing. I shoved the nose down and simultaneously pulled the throttles back. We were shortly back on altitude. Center never said anything, but it sure shook me up. I learned to never let an unqualified person take the controls while in positive control airspace. Things can get out of hand way too fast.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CPR ACFT HAS ALTDEV IN PCA.

Narrative: WE WERE ENRTE FROM HOUSTON TO MSP AND HAD LEVELED OFF AT FL350. ONE OF OUR COMPANY ENGINEERS WANTED TO RIDE UP FRONT FOR A WHILE, SO HE AND THE COPLT CHANGED SEATS. THE BOSS REQUESTED TO LET ENGINEER FLY THE PLANE. I EXPLAINED THE CTLS, TURNED OFF THE AUTOPLT AND LEG HIM FLY. I WAS COACHING HIM ON HDG AND ALT CTL AND HE WAS DOING OK. HIS WIFE CAME FORWARD WITH A CAMERA AND WANTED ME TO TAKE HIS PICTURE. I TOOK THE CAMERA AND SHE WENT BACK TO HER SEAT. I CHKED THE ACFT ATTITUDE AND HDG AND THEY LOOKED GOOD. I LEANED BACK AGAINST MY SIDE WINDOW AND TOOK HIS PICTURE. THE NEXT THING I HEARD THE ALT ALERT GO OFF. BY THE TIME I GOT BACK ON THE CTLS THE ALTIMETER SHOWED 400 FT ABOVE CRUISE ALT AND CLBING. I SHOVED THE NOSE DOWN AND SIMULTANEOUSLY PULLED THE THROTTLES BACK. WE WERE SHORTLY BACK ON ALT. CTR NEVER SAID ANYTHING, BUT IT SURE SHOOK ME UP. I LEARNED TO NEVER LET AN UNQUALIFIED PERSON TAKE THE CTLS WHILE IN POSITIVE CTL AIRSPACE. THINGS CAN GET OUT OF HAND WAY TOO FAST.

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.