An air carrier B737 flight crew climbed above their assigned altitude.

Attributes
ACN	373890
Time
Date	199707
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : ptw
State Reference	PA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 13000 msl bound upper : 13500
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zny tower : roa
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-200
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	departure other departure sid : sid
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 55 flight time total : 6000 flight time type : 55
ASRS Report	373890
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 25 flight time total : 28000 flight time type : 10000
ASRS Report	373892
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance non adherence : far
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified other controllera 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:

Aircraft was a B737-200 with control wheel steering autoplt. I was flying the aircraft with autoplt engaged in control wheel steering. I called passing 12000 ft for 13000 ft. At approximately 12500 ft I allowed myself to be distraction by the fasten seat belt sign and its use as a signal to the flight attendants. I discovered my error passing 13200 ft. Topped out at no more than 13500 ft, then leveled at 13000 ft. I forgot the cardinal rule, 'fly the airplane first.' I attempted to do a duty normally done by the PNF. Supplemental information from acn 373892: captain had bad night's sleep, possibly causing fatigue.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN ACR B737 FLC CLBED ABOVE THEIR ASSIGNED ALT.

Narrative: ACFT WAS A B737-200 WITH CTL WHEEL STEERING AUTOPLT. I WAS FLYING THE ACFT WITH AUTOPLT ENGAGED IN CTL WHEEL STEERING. I CALLED PASSING 12000 FT FOR 13000 FT. AT APPROX 12500 FT I ALLOWED MYSELF TO BE DISTR BY THE FASTEN SEAT BELT SIGN AND ITS USE AS A SIGNAL TO THE FLT ATTENDANTS. I DISCOVERED MY ERROR PASSING 13200 FT. TOPPED OUT AT NO MORE THAN 13500 FT, THEN LEVELED AT 13000 FT. I FORGOT THE CARDINAL RULE, 'FLY THE AIRPLANE FIRST.' I ATTEMPTED TO DO A DUTY NORMALLY DONE BY THE PNF. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 373892: CAPT HAD BAD NIGHT'S SLEEP, POSSIBLY CAUSING FATIGUE.

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.