A corporate jet flight crew overshot clearance altitude during climb.

Attributes
ACN	316630
Time
Date	199509
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : lex
State Reference	KY
Altitude	msl bound lower : 35000 msl bound upper : 35700
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : ztl tower : day
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 70 flight time total : 14000 flight time type : 130
ASRS Report	316630
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : became reoriented 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 cleared to FL370. A few mins later center changed the altitude clearance to FL350. Copilot reached up to change altitude alerter back to FL350, but at that same time a passenger came forward and started to talk. Also in the copilot's lap was a number for limo he was to check on. The captain turned to talk to the passenger, the copilot was distracted and did not set in the FL350 altitude, so, the autoplt kept climbing to FL370. At 35700 ft the captain noticed the problem and descended back to FL350. A classic example of cockpit distrs at work. We think that only 1 pilot should respond to a passenger question. The other should mind the store. The problem is in human nature. Both people have a natural tendency to acknowledge a passenger.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A CORPORATE JET FLC OVERSHOT CLRNC ALT DURING CLB.

Narrative: WE WERE CLRED TO FL370. A FEW MINS LATER CTR CHANGED THE ALT CLRNC TO FL350. COPLT REACHED UP TO CHANGE ALT ALERTER BACK TO FL350, BUT AT THAT SAME TIME A PAX CAME FORWARD AND STARTED TO TALK. ALSO IN THE COPLT'S LAP WAS A NUMBER FOR LIMO HE WAS TO CHK ON. THE CAPT TURNED TO TALK TO THE PAX, THE COPLT WAS DISTRACTED AND DID NOT SET IN THE FL350 ALT, SO, THE AUTOPLT KEPT CLBING TO FL370. AT 35700 FT THE CAPT NOTICED THE PROB AND DSNDED BACK TO FL350. A CLASSIC EXAMPLE OF COCKPIT DISTRS AT WORK. WE THINK THAT ONLY 1 PLT SHOULD RESPOND TO A PAX QUESTION. THE OTHER SHOULD MIND THE STORE. THE PROB IS IN HUMAN NATURE. BOTH PEOPLE HAVE A NATURAL TENDENCY TO ACKNOWLEDGE A PAX.

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.