Flight crew of light transport SF340 commuter during climb is cleared to descend to a lower altitude. First officer sets the new altitude in the preselector. Since they are above the new altitude the aircraft continues to climb. They climb 1600 ft before the error is caught. As they descend ATC calls to query altitude.

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Attributes
ACN	393530
Time
Date	199802
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : con
State Reference	NH
Altitude	msl bound lower : 15000 msl bound upper : 15600
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	climbout : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 172 flight time total : 3500 flight time type : 2400
ASRS Report	393530
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 2800 flight time type : 700
ASRS Report	393276
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

During our climb to 15000 ft (we had not yet leveled off) the controller issued a clearance for us to descend to 11000 ft at pilot's discretion. The first officer selected 11000 ft in the altitude preselector (used by the autoplt and flight director system to level off the aircraft). I let myself become distracted and did not pay attention to the first officer's actions. The aircraft continued its climb (since 11000 ft was selected in the altitude preselect, and we were at an altitude above 11000 ft, the autoplt would never level us off). When I looked up from reading the MEL book, we were climbing through 15600 ft. I immediately initiated a descent to 11000 ft. I broke a basic rule, fly the airplane first. Anything else could have been accomplished once in cruise flight or on the ground. I also assumed that the first officer had a better understanding of the autoplt. I should have been paying attention, I am the captain and was the PF.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLC OF LTT SF340 COMMUTER DURING CLB IS CLRED TO DSND TO A LOWER ALT. FO SETS THE NEW ALT IN THE PRESELECTOR. SINCE THEY ARE ABOVE THE NEW ALT THE ACFT CONTINUES TO CLB. THEY CLB 1600 FT BEFORE THE ERROR IS CAUGHT. AS THEY DSND ATC CALLS TO QUERY ALT.

Narrative: DURING OUR CLB TO 15000 FT (WE HAD NOT YET LEVELED OFF) THE CTLR ISSUED A CLRNC FOR US TO DSND TO 11000 FT AT PLT'S DISCRETION. THE FO SELECTED 11000 FT IN THE ALT PRESELECTOR (USED BY THE AUTOPLT AND FLT DIRECTOR SYS TO LEVEL OFF THE ACFT). I LET MYSELF BECOME DISTRACTED AND DID NOT PAY ATTN TO THE FO'S ACTIONS. THE ACFT CONTINUED ITS CLB (SINCE 11000 FT WAS SELECTED IN THE ALT PRESELECT, AND WE WERE AT AN ALT ABOVE 11000 FT, THE AUTOPLT WOULD NEVER LEVEL US OFF). WHEN I LOOKED UP FROM READING THE MEL BOOK, WE WERE CLBING THROUGH 15600 FT. I IMMEDIATELY INITIATED A DSCNT TO 11000 FT. I BROKE A BASIC RULE, FLY THE AIRPLANE FIRST. ANYTHING ELSE COULD HAVE BEEN ACCOMPLISHED ONCE IN CRUISE FLT OR ON THE GND. I ALSO ASSUMED THAT THE FO HAD A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE AUTOPLT. I SHOULD HAVE BEEN PAYING ATTN, I AM THE CAPT AND WAS THE PF.

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.