Altitude deviation during departure from cvg, oh.

Attributes
ACN	467830
Time
Date	200003
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : cvg.airport
State Reference	OH
Altitude	msl single value : 8000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Regional Jet CL65, Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	departure : on vectors departure sid : reds.3
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : commercial pilot : cfi pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 270 flight time total : 3700 flight time type : 1900
ASRS Report	467830
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to assigned altitude
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Aircraft
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

We were given a clearance to 8000 ft MSL. During the climb we were told to intercept the departure. I pushed the wrong button on the FMS and as a result the wrong intercept heading came up. With only 1 FMS control head on the captain's side, it was difficult for me to reach past the thrust levers and reprogram the correct course. The captain helped and as a result of his distraction from flying we went through our altitude by 300 ft. At no time were we in any proximity of other aircraft and the aircraft was returned to its assigned altitude immediately. We were off our altitude for only a few seconds. I feel this could have been avoided by having 2 FMS control heads to make it easier for the first officer to operate the FMS. Also, the crew had come off a 7 hour flight day, 13 hour duty day with minimal rest the night before. I finally believe fatigue played a big factor in misprogramming the FMS.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ALTDEV DURING DEP FROM CVG, OH.

Narrative: WE WERE GIVEN A CLRNC TO 8000 FT MSL. DURING THE CLB WE WERE TOLD TO INTERCEPT THE DEP. I PUSHED THE WRONG BUTTON ON THE FMS AND AS A RESULT THE WRONG INTERCEPT HDG CAME UP. WITH ONLY 1 FMS CTL HEAD ON THE CAPT'S SIDE, IT WAS DIFFICULT FOR ME TO REACH PAST THE THRUST LEVERS AND REPROGRAM THE CORRECT COURSE. THE CAPT HELPED AND AS A RESULT OF HIS DISTR FROM FLYING WE WENT THROUGH OUR ALT BY 300 FT. AT NO TIME WERE WE IN ANY PROX OF OTHER ACFT AND THE ACFT WAS RETURNED TO ITS ASSIGNED ALT IMMEDIATELY. WE WERE OFF OUR ALT FOR ONLY A FEW SECONDS. I FEEL THIS COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED BY HAVING 2 FMS CTL HEADS TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR THE FO TO OPERATE THE FMS. ALSO, THE CREW HAD COME OFF A 7 HR FLT DAY, 13 HR DUTY DAY WITH MINIMAL REST THE NIGHT BEFORE. I FINALLY BELIEVE FATIGUE PLAYED A BIG FACTOR IN MISPROGRAMMING THE FMS.

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.