An airbus 319 flight crew climbed above assigned altitude on departure from iad.

Attributes
ACN	438580
Time
Date	199905
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : ldn.vortac
State Reference	VA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 11000 msl bound upper : 11340
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : iad.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	A319
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	departure : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 138 flight time total : 11160 flight time type : 443
ASRS Report	438580
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : multi engine
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued advisory flight crew : returned to assigned airspace
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Departure assigned altitude (11000 ft MSL) on an assigned heading of 220 degrees, we were cleared to turn right direct ldn. To help me initiate the turn with the flight director, before inserting the direct to clearance into the computer, the first officer reached up to the 'heading' knob (on the flight control unit) and spun it to the right. Because the heading knob is adjacent to the speed knob -- we had been assigned to maintain 250 KIAS -- even this experienced A320 first officer spun up the selected speed knob. I noted the error on my pfd (primary flight display) and initiated my own turn with reference to my nd (navigation display). The first officer alerted me approaching or climbing through 11000 ft. While I was recovering, ATC asked if we were leveling at 11000 ft. We said we were doing so. I believe I saw 11340 ft as our maximum altitude.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN AIRBUS 319 FLC CLBED ABOVE ASSIGNED ALT ON DEP FROM IAD.

Narrative: DEP ASSIGNED ALT (11000 FT MSL) ON AN ASSIGNED HDG OF 220 DEGS, WE WERE CLRED TO TURN R DIRECT LDN. TO HELP ME INITIATE THE TURN WITH THE FLT DIRECTOR, BEFORE INSERTING THE DIRECT TO CLRNC INTO THE COMPUTER, THE FO REACHED UP TO THE 'HEADING' KNOB (ON THE FLT CTL UNIT) AND SPUN IT TO THE R. BECAUSE THE HEADING KNOB IS ADJACENT TO THE SPD KNOB -- WE HAD BEEN ASSIGNED TO MAINTAIN 250 KIAS -- EVEN THIS EXPERIENCED A320 FO SPUN UP THE SELECTED SPD KNOB. I NOTED THE ERROR ON MY PFD (PRIMARY FLT DISPLAY) AND INITIATED MY OWN TURN WITH REF TO MY ND (NAV DISPLAY). THE FO ALERTED ME APCHING OR CLBING THROUGH 11000 FT. WHILE I WAS RECOVERING, ATC ASKED IF WE WERE LEVELING AT 11000 FT. WE SAID WE WERE DOING SO. I BELIEVE I SAW 11340 FT AS OUR MAX ALT.

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.