Flight crew of a DC8 overshot intermediate altitude during departure due to distraction of an abnorm...

Attributes
ACN	458420
Time
Date	199912
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : fwa.airport
State Reference	IN
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3000 msl bound upper : 4000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : fwa.tracon tower : grr.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Super DC-8 All Series
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
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 : 350 flight time total : 12600 flight time type : 2900
ASRS Report	458420
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot inflight encounter other non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : aircraft noise other flight crewa other flight crewb other other : 3
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance controller : issued alert none taken : detected after the fact none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Aircraft
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

We departed fwa in a DC8 and were cleared to 3000 ft. Our departure was about 1 hour 40 mins late and we had to change aircraft at the last moment. Shortly after departure, we heard an unusual noise in the cockpit. The entire crew got involved trying to figure out what the cause was. When I looked back at the altimeter, I saw 4000 ft and departure control stated 'you are cleared to 10000 ft, I see you going through 3600 ft.' it was a typical 'everybody worried about the light bulb and nobody flew the aircraft.' contributing factors: 1) 2 capts in the crew. 2) pilot in the right seat was upset that we were delayed and he would miss his connection in sfo and the fact that he had to prepare a second weight and balance form. 3) aircraft had a completely different cockpit setup/instrumentation from the aircraft we flew on the prior flight. Altitude warning was different from the prior aircraft, at a different location and possibly did not sound pass 3000 ft and had no light indication. 4) a tired crew.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLC OF A DC8 OVERSHOT INTERMEDIATE ALT DURING DEP DUE TO DISTR OF AN ABNORMAL ACFT NOISE.

Narrative: WE DEPARTED FWA IN A DC8 AND WERE CLRED TO 3000 FT. OUR DEP WAS ABOUT 1 HR 40 MINS LATE AND WE HAD TO CHANGE ACFT AT THE LAST MOMENT. SHORTLY AFTER DEP, WE HEARD AN UNUSUAL NOISE IN THE COCKPIT. THE ENTIRE CREW GOT INVOLVED TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE CAUSE WAS. WHEN I LOOKED BACK AT THE ALTIMETER, I SAW 4000 FT AND DEP CTL STATED 'YOU ARE CLRED TO 10000 FT, I SEE YOU GOING THROUGH 3600 FT.' IT WAS A TYPICAL 'EVERYBODY WORRIED ABOUT THE LIGHT BULB AND NOBODY FLEW THE ACFT.' CONTRIBUTING FACTORS: 1) 2 CAPTS IN THE CREW. 2) PLT IN THE R SEAT WAS UPSET THAT WE WERE DELAYED AND HE WOULD MISS HIS CONNECTION IN SFO AND THE FACT THAT HE HAD TO PREPARE A SECOND WT AND BAL FORM. 3) ACFT HAD A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT COCKPIT SETUP/INSTRUMENTATION FROM THE ACFT WE FLEW ON THE PRIOR FLT. ALT WARNING WAS DIFFERENT FROM THE PRIOR ACFT, AT A DIFFERENT LOCATION AND POSSIBLY DID NOT SOUND PASS 3000 FT AND HAD NO LIGHT INDICATION. 4) A TIRED CREW.

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.

Flight crew of a DC8 overshot intermediate altitude during departure due to distraction of an abnormal aircraft noise.