Simple distrs and a malfunctioning altitude alerter contribute to an altitude overshoot in climb.

Attributes
ACN	462380
Time
Date	200002
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : aml.vor
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 9000 msl bound upper : 10200
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Weather Elements	Windshear Turbulence
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Light Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turboprop Eng
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Flight Phase	climbout : vacating altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : cfi pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 2000 flight time total : 2550 flight time type : 1000
ASRS Report	462380
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Departed iad for flight to mdt. Captain was PF on this flight. We were cleared up to 9000 ft. I had set that into the altitude alerter. I also crossconfirmed the altitude with the captain, who acknowledged 9000 ft. At this time, I took out the appropriate charts for harrisburg and was beginning to set up the radios. As I looked over, the altimeter indicated 10200 ft. I immediately brought this to the attention of the captain who was beginning to correct, but then dulles departure control cleared us up to 11000 ft. We both noted that the altitude alerter had failed to sound. And upon further check it was true that it was not sounding off 'right on' the altitude, if at all! Our over reliance on the altitude alerter, combined with simple distrs, caused this to occur.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SIMPLE DISTRS AND A MALFUNCTIONING ALT ALERTER CONTRIBUTE TO AN ALT OVERSHOOT IN CLB.

Narrative: DEPARTED IAD FOR FLT TO MDT. CAPT WAS PF ON THIS FLT. WE WERE CLRED UP TO 9000 FT. I HAD SET THAT INTO THE ALT ALERTER. I ALSO CROSSCONFIRMED THE ALT WITH THE CAPT, WHO ACKNOWLEDGED 9000 FT. AT THIS TIME, I TOOK OUT THE APPROPRIATE CHARTS FOR HARRISBURG AND WAS BEGINNING TO SET UP THE RADIOS. AS I LOOKED OVER, THE ALTIMETER INDICATED 10200 FT. I IMMEDIATELY BROUGHT THIS TO THE ATTN OF THE CAPT WHO WAS BEGINNING TO CORRECT, BUT THEN DULLES DEP CTL CLRED US UP TO 11000 FT. WE BOTH NOTED THAT THE ALT ALERTER HAD FAILED TO SOUND. AND UPON FURTHER CHK IT WAS TRUE THAT IT WAS NOT SOUNDING OFF 'RIGHT ON' THE ALT, IF AT ALL! OUR OVER RELIANCE ON THE ALT ALERTER, COMBINED WITH SIMPLE DISTRS, CAUSED THIS TO OCCUR.

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.