B727 altitude deviation altitude overshot. Climbing traffic.

Attributes
ACN	359380
Time
Date	199701
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : sbj airport : ewr
State Reference	NJ
Altitude	msl bound lower : 15000 msl bound upper : 15900
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zny
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B727 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	departure other enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : second officer instruction : instructor
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 60 flight time total : 6100 flight time type : 1000
ASRS Report	359380
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 23000 flight time type : 2200
ASRS Report	359294
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance non adherence : far non adherence other other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : became reoriented 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:

During climb out we were assigned altitude 15000 ft. We had a new hire pilot on the jump seat observing. I had started to discuss company procedures with the observer and the PNF was listening and adding some comments. At about 15900 ft the PNF suddenly said 'we are only cleared to 15000 ft.' the PF immediately began a correction. I (so) was on my first leg back after a 2 month sick leave, and was a bit rusty. It was a short flight (approximately 45 mins) so I was trying to get as much training in as possible. The PF was probably distraction by our discussion and the PNF was participating. The training could have waited for after leveloff or even after arrival if necessary. The route is one we fly all the time and we are normally cleared up to 17000 ft by that time. The WX was clear and I think we were all complacent. Supplemental information from acn 359294: did not remember altitude warning going off and did not receive 1000 ft to leveloff from first officer. Thought that 17000 ft was our altitude cleared to, that 17000 ft was given to an aircraft ahead of us.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B727 ALTDEV ALT OVERSHOT. CLBING TFC.

Narrative: DURING CLBOUT WE WERE ASSIGNED ALT 15000 FT. WE HAD A NEW HIRE PLT ON THE JUMP SEAT OBSERVING. I HAD STARTED TO DISCUSS COMPANY PROCS WITH THE OBSERVER AND THE PNF WAS LISTENING AND ADDING SOME COMMENTS. AT ABOUT 15900 FT THE PNF SUDDENLY SAID 'WE ARE ONLY CLRED TO 15000 FT.' THE PF IMMEDIATELY BEGAN A CORRECTION. I (SO) WAS ON MY FIRST LEG BACK AFTER A 2 MONTH SICK LEAVE, AND WAS A BIT RUSTY. IT WAS A SHORT FLT (APPROX 45 MINS) SO I WAS TRYING TO GET AS MUCH TRAINING IN AS POSSIBLE. THE PF WAS PROBABLY DISTR BY OUR DISCUSSION AND THE PNF WAS PARTICIPATING. THE TRAINING COULD HAVE WAITED FOR AFTER LEVELOFF OR EVEN AFTER ARR IF NECESSARY. THE RTE IS ONE WE FLY ALL THE TIME AND WE ARE NORMALLY CLRED UP TO 17000 FT BY THAT TIME. THE WX WAS CLR AND I THINK WE WERE ALL COMPLACENT. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 359294: DID NOT REMEMBER ALT WARNING GOING OFF AND DID NOT RECEIVE 1000 FT TO LEVELOFF FROM FO. THOUGHT THAT 17000 FT WAS OUR ALT CLRED TO, THAT 17000 FT WAS GIVEN TO AN ACFT AHEAD OF US.

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.