Commuter flight crew has altitude deviation.

Attributes
ACN	271107
Time
Date	199405
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : rdd
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 13000 msl bound upper : 13700
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Jetstream 31
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	enroute : direct enroute airway : zse
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 250 flight time total : 5800 flight time type : 3000
ASRS Report	271107
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 250 flight time total : 7000 flight time type : 3000
ASRS Report	270850
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : published procedure non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Took off lmt VFR and picked up clearance (IFR) to rdd, asked for 13000 ft and for a heading for direct rdd. Clearance was given as requested. After performing the after takeoff and cruise checklist (after 10000 ft) I, as PNF pulled out a magazine to look through. I mentioned an article in the magazine. We were both discussing the article when the captain noticed we had reached an altitude of 13700 ft when center queried whether we wanted 14000 ft as a final. He stated no and proceeded back to 13000 ft. I believe my complacency of (kicking back) before reaching cruise altitude and inattn by both of us contributed to the altitude bust. Also, lack of aircraft standardization, since this plane we were flying is one of only a couple in the fleet that doesn't have an altitude alerter installed, also played a part. No conflict was reported. Supplemental information from acn 270850: there were a number of circumstances that conspired to allow me to make this error! 1) we had an early show and I have not been sleeping very well. This was the last leg of the day and my mind was wandering. 2) the first officer does not always make altitude callouts. In fact, he is quite sloppy about this and we have discussed it.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: COMMUTER FLC HAS ALTDEV.

Narrative: TOOK OFF LMT VFR AND PICKED UP CLRNC (IFR) TO RDD, ASKED FOR 13000 FT AND FOR A HDG FOR DIRECT RDD. CLRNC WAS GIVEN AS REQUESTED. AFTER PERFORMING THE AFTER TKOF AND CRUISE CHKLIST (AFTER 10000 FT) I, AS PNF PULLED OUT A MAGAZINE TO LOOK THROUGH. I MENTIONED AN ARTICLE IN THE MAGAZINE. WE WERE BOTH DISCUSSING THE ARTICLE WHEN THE CAPT NOTICED WE HAD REACHED AN ALT OF 13700 FT WHEN CTR QUERIED WHETHER WE WANTED 14000 FT AS A FINAL. HE STATED NO AND PROCEEDED BACK TO 13000 FT. I BELIEVE MY COMPLACENCY OF (KICKING BACK) BEFORE REACHING CRUISE ALT AND INATTN BY BOTH OF US CONTRIBUTED TO THE ALT BUST. ALSO, LACK OF ACFT STANDARDIZATION, SINCE THIS PLANE WE WERE FLYING IS ONE OF ONLY A COUPLE IN THE FLEET THAT DOESN'T HAVE AN ALT ALERTER INSTALLED, ALSO PLAYED A PART. NO CONFLICT WAS RPTED. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 270850: THERE WERE A NUMBER OF CIRCUMSTANCES THAT CONSPIRED TO ALLOW ME TO MAKE THIS ERROR! 1) WE HAD AN EARLY SHOW AND I HAVE NOT BEEN SLEEPING VERY WELL. THIS WAS THE LAST LEG OF THE DAY AND MY MIND WAS WANDERING. 2) THE FO DOES NOT ALWAYS MAKE ALT CALLOUTS. IN FACT, HE IS QUITE SLOPPY ABOUT THIS AND WE HAVE DISCUSSED IT.

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.