Traffic watch on departure provides enough distraction to cause an altitude overshoot at lax, ca.

Attributes
ACN	470371
Time
Date	200004
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : lax.airport
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2000 msl bound upper : 2400
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : lax.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	climbout : initial climbout : takeoff
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	tower : lax.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Small Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turboprop Eng
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	climbout : takeoff climbout : initial
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 240 flight time total : 9500 flight time type : 2880
ASRS Report	470371
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : multi engine
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 240 flight time total : 18000 flight time type : 6400
ASRS Report	470300
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	none taken : insufficient time
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

On clearance to takeoff, tower asked if we had the commuter in sight -- yes we did. We were cleared for takeoff and told to maintain visual separation. The aircraft would turn left at the shoreline. On departure, immediately after the turboprop, we gained on him very rapidly. It did not seem like they were going to turn. Our rate of climb was approximately 4000 FPM. As we gained on him, both the captain and I focused our attention on the traffic and our rate of closure. As we approached the turboprop we began to hear our altitude alerting system. We attempted to level off as quickly as possible, but did reach 2400 ft (our assigned 2000 ft). We were immediately given climb to 5000 ft.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: TFC WATCH ON DEP PROVIDES ENOUGH DISTR TO CAUSE AN ALT OVERSHOOT AT LAX, CA.

Narrative: ON CLRNC TO TKOF, TWR ASKED IF WE HAD THE COMMUTER IN SIGHT -- YES WE DID. WE WERE CLRED FOR TKOF AND TOLD TO MAINTAIN VISUAL SEPARATION. THE ACFT WOULD TURN L AT THE SHORELINE. ON DEP, IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE TURBOPROP, WE GAINED ON HIM VERY RAPIDLY. IT DID NOT SEEM LIKE THEY WERE GOING TO TURN. OUR RATE OF CLB WAS APPROX 4000 FPM. AS WE GAINED ON HIM, BOTH THE CAPT AND I FOCUSED OUR ATTN ON THE TFC AND OUR RATE OF CLOSURE. AS WE APCHED THE TURBOPROP WE BEGAN TO HEAR OUR ALT ALERTING SYS. WE ATTEMPTED TO LEVEL OFF AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE, BUT DID REACH 2400 FT (OUR ASSIGNED 2000 FT). WE WERE IMMEDIATELY GIVEN CLB TO 5000 FT.

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.