A DC9 crew overshot assigned leveloff altitude.

Attributes
ACN	503910
Time
Date	200102
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : iiu.vortac
State Reference	KY
Altitude	msl bound lower : 27000 msl bound upper : 27200
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	DC-9 40
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise : enroute altitude change
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zme.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 10000 flight time type : 4500
ASRS Report	503910
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : cfi pilot : flight engineer pilot : multi engine
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 110 flight time total : 8300 flight time type : 450
ASRS Report	503323
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to assigned altitude
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Miss Distance	vertical : 800
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Aircraft
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

We were given a route change direct to louisville just as we were upon our leveloff altitude of FL270. When the first officer programmed the change into the RNAV, the RNAV flagged and at that time we noticed our altitude approaching FL272, at which time the first officer corrected to FL270. While correcting, another aircraft advised ATC that we were at FL273. The other aircraft was at FL280. Onboard our aircraft we have an altitude alert device that warns us when we are 300 ft off altitude. This device never chimed and it was in perfect working order. I write this not because we busted an altitude, but because the other aircraft stated to ATC that we did. He, by the way, accused us over the radio as having our altimeters not set to 29.92, which again was incorrect on his part. Factors affecting: sudden increase of workload right before assigned leveloff. Situation aggravated by RNAV failure and a lack of altitude leveloff capability of our autoplt system.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A DC9 CREW OVERSHOT ASSIGNED LEVELOFF ALT.

Narrative: WE WERE GIVEN A RTE CHANGE DIRECT TO LOUISVILLE JUST AS WE WERE UPON OUR LEVELOFF ALT OF FL270. WHEN THE FO PROGRAMMED THE CHANGE INTO THE RNAV, THE RNAV FLAGGED AND AT THAT TIME WE NOTICED OUR ALT APCHING FL272, AT WHICH TIME THE FO CORRECTED TO FL270. WHILE CORRECTING, ANOTHER ACFT ADVISED ATC THAT WE WERE AT FL273. THE OTHER ACFT WAS AT FL280. ONBOARD OUR ACFT WE HAVE AN ALT ALERT DEVICE THAT WARNS US WHEN WE ARE 300 FT OFF ALT. THIS DEVICE NEVER CHIMED AND IT WAS IN PERFECT WORKING ORDER. I WRITE THIS NOT BECAUSE WE BUSTED AN ALT, BUT BECAUSE THE OTHER ACFT STATED TO ATC THAT WE DID. HE, BY THE WAY, ACCUSED US OVER THE RADIO AS HAVING OUR ALTIMETERS NOT SET TO 29.92, WHICH AGAIN WAS INCORRECT ON HIS PART. FACTORS AFFECTING: SUDDEN INCREASE OF WORKLOAD RIGHT BEFORE ASSIGNED LEVELOFF. SIT AGGRAVATED BY RNAV FAILURE AND A LACK OF ALT LEVELOFF CAPABILITY OF OUR AUTOPLT SYS.

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.