A B737 flight crew overshoots assigned altitude.

Attributes
ACN	521830
Time
Date	200108
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : hou.airport
State Reference	TX
Altitude	msl bound lower : 27000 msl bound upper : 27300
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : zzz.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-300
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 269 flight time total : 17000
ASRS Report	521830
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to assigned altitude
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft Flight Crew Human Performance ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

En route from sat to hou we were climbing to our final assigned altitude of FL270. The first officer was flying the aircraft at the time. Prior to reaching FL270, we were given pilot's discretion to FL240. When the autoplt went to altitude acquire, the first officer put in FL240 and we exceeded FL270 by 300 ft. We both discovered the error about the same time. The first officer stopped the climb and started a descent to FL240. At the time this event happened, we were deviating for WX, assigned to intercept 285 radial off hub and I was getting the ATIS. When within 1000 ft of an assigned altitude both pilots should make sure that the autoplt captures the assigned altitude or push altitude hold to prevent recurrence.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B737 FLT CREW OVERSHOOTS ASSIGNED ALT.

Narrative: ENRTE FROM SAT TO HOU WE WERE CLBING TO OUR FINAL ASSIGNED ALT OF FL270. THE FO WAS FLYING THE ACFT AT THE TIME. PRIOR TO REACHING FL270, WE WERE GIVEN PLT'S DISCRETION TO FL240. WHEN THE AUTOPLT WENT TO ALT ACQUIRE, THE FO PUT IN FL240 AND WE EXCEEDED FL270 BY 300 FT. WE BOTH DISCOVERED THE ERROR ABOUT THE SAME TIME. THE FO STOPPED THE CLB AND STARTED A DSCNT TO FL240. AT THE TIME THIS EVENT HAPPENED, WE WERE DEVIATING FOR WX, ASSIGNED TO INTERCEPT 285 RADIAL OFF HUB AND I WAS GETTING THE ATIS. WHEN WITHIN 1000 FT OF AN ASSIGNED ALT BOTH PLTS SHOULD MAKE SURE THAT THE AUTOPLT CAPTURES THE ASSIGNED ALT OR PUSH ALT HOLD TO PREVENT RECURRENCE.

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.