A B757 flight crew deviated from assigned altitude which resulted in a TCASII RA.

Attributes
ACN	520260
Time
Date	200108
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : zla.artcc
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 27000 msl bound upper : 27220
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B757 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : cfi pilot : multi engine pilot : flight engineer pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 218 flight time total : 10179 flight time type : 1138
ASRS Report	520260
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude altitude deviation : overshoot conflict : airborne critical non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to assigned altitude
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

On climb out during relatively smooth conditions, we were given clearance to maintain FL270 for traffic. PF (captain) leveled off at FL270 nicely without autoplt engaged, then gradually allowed aircraft to climb 220 ft too high, which triggered TCASII TA because of traffic maintaining altitude 2000 ft above us. PNF advised captain of gradual deviation but old captain did not correct deviation fast enough to keep from triggering an ATC altitude deviation. Autoplt use was recommended on this departure because of high levels of traffic, so both pilots can look outside for traffic. Age 60 rule age extension is very detrimental to the safety of aviation also. The skills maintained by the average younger pilot far outweigh the experience of an older pilot. Mandatory retirement at age 52-55 is required for safer skies.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B757 FLT CREW DEVIATED FROM ASSIGNED ALT WHICH RESULTED IN A TCASII RA.

Narrative: ON CLBOUT DURING RELATIVELY SMOOTH CONDITIONS, WE WERE GIVEN CLRNC TO MAINTAIN FL270 FOR TFC. PF (CAPT) LEVELED OFF AT FL270 NICELY WITHOUT AUTOPLT ENGAGED, THEN GRADUALLY ALLOWED ACFT TO CLB 220 FT TOO HIGH, WHICH TRIGGERED TCASII TA BECAUSE OF TFC MAINTAINING ALT 2000 FT ABOVE US. PNF ADVISED CAPT OF GRADUAL DEV BUT OLD CAPT DID NOT CORRECT DEV FAST ENOUGH TO KEEP FROM TRIGGERING AN ATC ALTDEV. AUTOPLT USE WAS RECOMMENDED ON THIS DEP BECAUSE OF HIGH LEVELS OF TFC, SO BOTH PLTS CAN LOOK OUTSIDE FOR TFC. AGE 60 RULE AGE EXTENSION IS VERY DETRIMENTAL TO THE SAFETY OF AVIATION ALSO. THE SKILLS MAINTAINED BY THE AVERAGE YOUNGER PLT FAR OUTWEIGH THE EXPERIENCE OF AN OLDER PLT. MANDATORY RETIREMENT AT AGE 52-55 IS REQUIRED FOR SAFER SKIES.

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.