Altitude overshoot on climb. Flight crew distracted by WX.

Attributes
ACN	305660
Time
Date	199505
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : stl
State Reference	MO
Altitude	msl bound lower : 5000 msl bound upper : 6000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : stl tower : lax
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B727-200
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : second officer
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : commercial pilot : flight engineer pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time total : 2500
ASRS Report	305660
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 15000 flight time type : 6000
ASRS Report	305659
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

In severe WX, we climbed to 6000 ft while our last known clearance was 5000 ft. When we queried departure controller, he said to maintain 6000 ft. The problem arose due to attention being diverted from clrncs to WX avoidance and radar work. Supplemental information from acn 306123: cleared for takeoff on runway 12R at stl, fly runway heading to 5000 ft given right turn to 180 degrees. Large thunderstorm on nose at 10 NM once headed 180 degrees. All 3 crew members got involved in evaluating radar picture. Given further right to 260 degrees then noticed climbing through 5500 ft. Questioned ATC on altitude and they said climb to 6000 ft. During radar evaluation PF thought he heard us cleared to 6000 ft. No other cockpit member recalled hearing that clearance. All 3 should not be distracted by same problem, ie, thunderstorm.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ALT OVERSHOOT ON CLB. FLC DISTRACTED BY WX.

Narrative: IN SEVERE WX, WE CLBED TO 6000 FT WHILE OUR LAST KNOWN CLRNC WAS 5000 FT. WHEN WE QUERIED DEP CTLR, HE SAID TO MAINTAIN 6000 FT. THE PROB AROSE DUE TO ATTN BEING DIVERTED FROM CLRNCS TO WX AVOIDANCE AND RADAR WORK. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 306123: CLRED FOR TKOF ON RWY 12R AT STL, FLY RWY HDG TO 5000 FT GIVEN R TURN TO 180 DEGS. LARGE TSTM ON NOSE AT 10 NM ONCE HEADED 180 DEGS. ALL 3 CREW MEMBERS GOT INVOLVED IN EVALUATING RADAR PICTURE. GIVEN FURTHER R TO 260 DEGS THEN NOTICED CLBING THROUGH 5500 FT. QUESTIONED ATC ON ALT AND THEY SAID CLB TO 6000 FT. DURING RADAR EVALUATION PF THOUGHT HE HEARD US CLRED TO 6000 FT. NO OTHER COCKPIT MEMBER RECALLED HEARING THAT CLRNC. ALL 3 SHOULD NOT BE DISTRACTED BY SAME PROB, IE, TSTM.

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.