Altitude deviation by B737-200 near mia.

Attributes
ACN	452028
Time
Date	199910
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : mia.airport
State Reference	FL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 16000 msl bound upper : 16400
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Weather Elements	Rain
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : mia.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-200
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	climbout : vacating altitude climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	departure : other published ifr departure
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 190 flight time total : 15000 flight time type : 9000
ASRS Report	452028
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : far non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment : altitude alert other controllera other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to assigned altitude none taken : insufficient time
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

During climb out first officer was hand flying the airplane. We were being vectored for traffic and WX (moderate rain showers) to our departure fix. Numerous heading changes were issued along with a climb clearance from 7000 ft to 16000 ft. Leaving 14000 ft we were issued a heading change of 40 degrees (330 degrees to 010 degrees) as we turned we entered the rain showers (no turbulence). A GA aircraft was refusing a turn into the WX in which several previous aircraft had entered, radio communication with this aircraft and other aircraft was very busy. As PNF I got concerned with the altitude and location of the GA aircraft. The 15000 ft for 16000 ft callout was made by both pilots, we were in a 25 degree banked turn and at 15700 ft I noticed our climb rate had increased to 4000 FPM. I stated aggressively, '16000 ft' leveloff but the pushover took our altitude to 16400 ft. We aggressively returned to 16000 ft. No conflict was stated. With the conditions, the PF should have engaged the autoplt. Also both pilots should have continued to monitor the leveloff. Attention was diverted from monitoring our aircraft to the location of another aircraft.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ALTDEV BY B737-200 NEAR MIA.

Narrative: DURING CLBOUT FO WAS HAND FLYING THE AIRPLANE. WE WERE BEING VECTORED FOR TFC AND WX (MODERATE RAIN SHOWERS) TO OUR DEP FIX. NUMEROUS HEADING CHANGES WERE ISSUED ALONG WITH A CLB CLRNC FROM 7000 FT TO 16000 FT. LEAVING 14000 FT WE WERE ISSUED A HEADING CHANGE OF 40 DEGS (330 DEGS TO 010 DEGS) AS WE TURNED WE ENTERED THE RAIN SHOWERS (NO TURB). A GA ACFT WAS REFUSING A TURN INTO THE WX IN WHICH SEVERAL PREVIOUS ACFT HAD ENTERED, RADIO COM WITH THIS ACFT AND OTHER ACFT WAS VERY BUSY. AS PNF I GOT CONCERNED WITH THE ALT AND LOCATION OF THE GA ACFT. THE 15000 FT FOR 16000 FT CALLOUT WAS MADE BY BOTH PLTS, WE WERE IN A 25 DEG BANKED TURN AND AT 15700 FT I NOTICED OUR CLB RATE HAD INCREASED TO 4000 FPM. I STATED AGGRESSIVELY, '16000 FT' LEVELOFF BUT THE PUSHOVER TOOK OUR ALT TO 16400 FT. WE AGGRESSIVELY RETURNED TO 16000 FT. NO CONFLICT WAS STATED. WITH THE CONDITIONS, THE PF SHOULD HAVE ENGAGED THE AUTOPLT. ALSO BOTH PLTS SHOULD HAVE CONTINUED TO MONITOR THE LEVELOFF. ATTN WAS DIVERTED FROM MONITORING OUR ACFT TO THE LOCATION OF ANOTHER ACFT.

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.