An air carrier flight crew flying a DC9 near ind fails to level off at their assigned altitude.

Attributes
ACN	488860
Time
Date	200010
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : ind.airport
State Reference	IN
Altitude	msl bound lower : 35000 msl bound upper : 35300
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zid.artcc tower : swf.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	DC-9 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	climbout other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : commercial pilot : flight engineer pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 11000 flight time type : 5000
ASRS Report	488860
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : company policies non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

A probationary pilot was about to level off at FL350. At FL348, he put his hand on the autoplt. I thought he was cutting rate of climb. We were climbing at 500 FPM. I picked up the flight plan to enter top of climb fuel and time. I glanced at altitude and we were at FL352. I took control and leveled plane with autoplt, but climb rate continued. I disconnected autoplt and leveled off at FL353. I had to nose the plane over, but I did not want to risk injury to the flight attendants. I just did not ensure the other pilot leveled off at FL350. Corrective action: ensure plane and pilot level the plane or turn to heading or whatever before I tackle any extraneous duty.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN ACR FLC FLYING A DC9 NEAR IND FAILS TO LEVEL OFF AT THEIR ASSIGNED ALT.

Narrative: A PROBATIONARY PLT WAS ABOUT TO LEVEL OFF AT FL350. AT FL348, HE PUT HIS HAND ON THE AUTOPLT. I THOUGHT HE WAS CUTTING RATE OF CLB. WE WERE CLBING AT 500 FPM. I PICKED UP THE FLT PLAN TO ENTER TOP OF CLB FUEL AND TIME. I GLANCED AT ALT AND WE WERE AT FL352. I TOOK CTL AND LEVELED PLANE WITH AUTOPLT, BUT CLB RATE CONTINUED. I DISCONNECTED AUTOPLT AND LEVELED OFF AT FL353. I HAD TO NOSE THE PLANE OVER, BUT I DID NOT WANT TO RISK INJURY TO THE FLT ATTENDANTS. I JUST DID NOT ENSURE THE OTHER PLT LEVELED OFF AT FL350. CORRECTIVE ACTION: ENSURE PLANE AND PLT LEVEL THE PLANE OR TURN TO HDG OR WHATEVER BEFORE I TACKLE ANY EXTRANEOUS DUTY.

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.