An air carrier flight crew climbed instead of descending to FL310.

Attributes
ACN	325300
Time
Date	199601
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : bos
State Reference	MA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 33000 msl bound upper : 33350
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zbw
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	cruise other descent other
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 : 180 flight time total : 3500 flight time type : 2000
ASRS Report	325300
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance non adherence : far other anomaly other
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:

I was flying while captain spoke to our dispatcher. Was given altitude change from FL330 to FL310. We were both distracted by discussion of diverting to cvg instead of going to boston as scheduled. I had started a descent using vertical speed mode. Next thing I knew was we were 350 ft above FL330. I had not interrupted the captain's discussion with the dispatcher to tell of the altitude change. I will next time. I should have monitored more closely.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN ACR FLC CLBED INSTEAD OF DSNDING TO FL310.

Narrative: I WAS FLYING WHILE CAPT SPOKE TO OUR DISPATCHER. WAS GIVEN ALT CHANGE FROM FL330 TO FL310. WE WERE BOTH DISTRACTED BY DISCUSSION OF DIVERTING TO CVG INSTEAD OF GOING TO BOSTON AS SCHEDULED. I HAD STARTED A DSCNT USING VERT SPD MODE. NEXT THING I KNEW WAS WE WERE 350 FT ABOVE FL330. I HAD NOT INTERRUPTED THE CAPT'S DISCUSSION WITH THE DISPATCHER TO TELL OF THE ALT CHANGE. I WILL NEXT TIME. I SHOULD HAVE MONITORED MORE CLOSELY.

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.