MD88 crew had altitude overshoot in dca class B airspace.

Attributes
ACN	484500
Time
Date	200009
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : dca.airport
State Reference	DC
Altitude	msl bound lower : 5000 msl bound upper : 5500
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : dca.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-88
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	departure sid : ns
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 130 flight time total : 8000 flight time type : 1100
ASRS Report	484500
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot inflight encounter : weather inflight encounter other non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment : altitude alert other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : returned to assigned altitude
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Weather
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

During takeoff departure from dca, copilot flying, on a noise abatement procedure off runway 19, several cloud build-ups in area. Between 2500-3000 ft, copilot called for after takeoff checklist, and at about the same time tower switched us to departure control. After checking in with departure, I started through the after takeoff checklist. At some point, I glanced at the altimeter and saw 5200 ft, and called out 'altitude' to the copilot. The aircraft continued up to 5500 ft before he was able to arrest the climb and start back down. The copilot stated he was trying to avoid the buildups. I called departure and requested a higher altitude, which was granted. Although the 1000 ft prior to leveloff was announced, ('4000 ft for 5000 ft') I should have delayed the after takeoff checklist until after leveloff at 5000 ft.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MD88 CREW HAD ALT OVERSHOOT IN DCA CLASS B AIRSPACE.

Narrative: DURING TKOF DEP FROM DCA, COPLT FLYING, ON A NOISE ABATEMENT PROC OFF RWY 19, SEVERAL CLOUD BUILD-UPS IN AREA. BTWN 2500-3000 FT, COPLT CALLED FOR AFTER TKOF CHKLIST, AND AT ABOUT THE SAME TIME TWR SWITCHED US TO DEP CTL. AFTER CHKING IN WITH DEP, I STARTED THROUGH THE AFTER TKOF CHKLIST. AT SOME POINT, I GLANCED AT THE ALTIMETER AND SAW 5200 FT, AND CALLED OUT 'ALT' TO THE COPLT. THE ACFT CONTINUED UP TO 5500 FT BEFORE HE WAS ABLE TO ARREST THE CLB AND START BACK DOWN. THE COPLT STATED HE WAS TRYING TO AVOID THE BUILDUPS. I CALLED DEP AND REQUESTED A HIGHER ALT, WHICH WAS GRANTED. ALTHOUGH THE 1000 FT PRIOR TO LEVELOFF WAS ANNOUNCED, ('4000 FT FOR 5000 FT') I SHOULD HAVE DELAYED THE AFTER TKOF CHKLIST UNTIL AFTER LEVELOFF AT 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.