Narrative:

While climbing out of salt lake city airport, we were cleared to fl 200 (just after switching from departure to center-the usual clearance in this instance is to fl 230). Just prior to the fairfield VOR we were advised of an aircraft at fl 210--9 O'clock southbound (approximately paralleling our course). Center controller stated he had made two previous calls to advise us of the traffic, we heard neither, we sighted the aircraft and reported sighting to center. A level off for fl 200 was initiated and a right turn of 45 degree was initiated to transition to the airway southbound as we passed over the fairfield VOR as the course bar started to center indicating on course. A left turn was commenced to maintain on course. At that point center controller called and asked our altitude, he stated center altitude readout was 20400 and asked our altitude. Our altimeter read between 20250 and 20280. We so stated to the controller. A return to fl 200 was accomplished. We were advised to contact center by phone during working hours. Much talking on the radio perhaps caused us to miss the first calls. Preoccupation with why we had missed the calls led to inattention. Different model autoplt, this one did not have the ability to capture and hold altitude. Most other models have that ability. Aircraft was being flown in cws (control wheel steering mode).

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CLOSE PROX AND ALT DEVIATION OVERSHOT NEAR FFU VOR.

Narrative: WHILE CLBING OUT OF SALT LAKE CITY ARPT, WE WERE CLRED TO FL 200 (JUST AFTER SWITCHING FROM DEP TO CTR-THE USUAL CLRNC IN THIS INSTANCE IS TO FL 230). JUST PRIOR TO THE FAIRFIELD VOR WE WERE ADVISED OF AN ACFT AT FL 210--9 O'CLOCK SBND (APPROX PARALLELING OUR COURSE). CTR CTLR STATED HE HAD MADE TWO PREVIOUS CALLS TO ADVISE US OF THE TFC, WE HEARD NEITHER, WE SIGHTED THE ACFT AND RPTED SIGHTING TO CTR. A LEVEL OFF FOR FL 200 WAS INITIATED AND A RIGHT TURN OF 45 DEG WAS INITIATED TO TRANSITION TO THE AIRWAY SBND AS WE PASSED OVER THE FAIRFIELD VOR AS THE COURSE BAR STARTED TO CENTER INDICATING ON COURSE. A LEFT TURN WAS COMMENCED TO MAINTAIN ON COURSE. AT THAT POINT CTR CTLR CALLED AND ASKED OUR ALT, HE STATED CENTER ALT READOUT WAS 20400 AND ASKED OUR ALT. OUR ALTIMETER READ BETWEEN 20250 AND 20280. WE SO STATED TO THE CTLR. A RETURN TO FL 200 WAS ACCOMPLISHED. WE WERE ADVISED TO CONTACT CTR BY PHONE DURING WORKING HOURS. MUCH TALKING ON THE RADIO PERHAPS CAUSED US TO MISS THE FIRST CALLS. PREOCCUPATION WITH WHY WE HAD MISSED THE CALLS LED TO INATTENTION. DIFFERENT MODEL AUTOPLT, THIS ONE DID NOT HAVE THE ABILITY TO CAPTURE AND HOLD ALT. MOST OTHER MODELS HAVE THAT ABILITY. ACFT WAS BEING FLOWN IN CWS (CONTROL WHEEL STEERING MODE).

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 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.