Captain overshot climb altitude on departure.

Attributes
ACN	296166
Time
Date	199502
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : bos
State Reference	MA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 14000 msl bound upper : 14400
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	departure other enroute airway : zbw
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 80 flight time total : 20000 flight time type : 1000
ASRS Report	296166
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	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:

Bos departure frequency 133.0 had cleared us to 14000 ft MSL and turn us direct to barnes VOR. As we climbed through 13000 ft the controller switched us to bos frequency 133.42. I checked in climbing 13400 ft for 14000 ft. We had a very high rate of ascent and when I didn't see the captain begin to transition to level flight at 13600 ft, I mentioned level at 14000 ft. Again at approximately 13500 ft I mentioned level 14000 ft to the captain, and he began a slow transition to level flight. By the time we were level we had climbed to approximately 14400 ft, and then we descended back to 14000 ft. Factors leading to the altitude bust: high rate of ascent 3000-4000 FPM. Passenger seat belt having been turned off at 10000 ft. Expectation of being cleared to 16000 ft by next controller, when we checked in passing through 13400 ft. Captain not wanting to put any flight service people or passenger into the ceiling with a negative 'G' maneuver.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CAPT OVERSHOT CLB ALT ON DEP.

Narrative: BOS DEP FREQ 133.0 HAD CLRED US TO 14000 FT MSL AND TURN US DIRECT TO BARNES VOR. AS WE CLBED THROUGH 13000 FT THE CTLR SWITCHED US TO BOS FREQ 133.42. I CHKED IN CLBING 13400 FT FOR 14000 FT. WE HAD A VERY HIGH RATE OF ASCENT AND WHEN I DIDN'T SEE THE CAPT BEGIN TO TRANSITION TO LEVEL FLT AT 13600 FT, I MENTIONED LEVEL AT 14000 FT. AGAIN AT APPROX 13500 FT I MENTIONED LEVEL 14000 FT TO THE CAPT, AND HE BEGAN A SLOW TRANSITION TO LEVEL FLT. BY THE TIME WE WERE LEVEL WE HAD CLBED TO APPROX 14400 FT, AND THEN WE DSNDED BACK TO 14000 FT. FACTORS LEADING TO THE ALT BUST: HIGH RATE OF ASCENT 3000-4000 FPM. PAX SEAT BELT HAVING BEEN TURNED OFF AT 10000 FT. EXPECTATION OF BEING CLRED TO 16000 FT BY NEXT CTLR, WHEN WE CHKED IN PASSING THROUGH 13400 FT. CAPT NOT WANTING TO PUT ANY FLT SVC PEOPLE OR PAX INTO THE CEILING WITH A NEGATIVE 'G' MANEUVER.

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.