A B737-800 overshot its assigned cruise altitude by 175 ft during climb and received a TCAS RA from ...

Narrative:

During VMC climbout with ARTCC ATC we were given several step climbs and eventually advised of crossing traffic that would be 1;000 ft above us as we leveled off at our cruise altitude. The traffic was acquired visually well before our level off and presented no apparent conflict potential. Just prior to level off (approximately 300 ft) the TCAS presented a TA followed by an RA. This resulted in a momentary fly through of assigned altitude of 175 ft as observed on the captain's pfd. An immediate return to the cruise altitude was underway even before ATC inquired about our altitude; the event was that brief. In short; in this particular situation; the TCAS essentially complicated what would have been a routine autopilot on level off with crossing traffic. I made a call to ATC upon arrival at our destination to ensure no additional information was needed or questions remained open.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B737-800 overshot its assigned cruise altitude by 175 FT during climb and received a TCAS RA from opposite direction traffic as the reporter's aircraft returned to its assigned altitude.

Narrative: During VMC climbout with ARTCC ATC we were given several step climbs and eventually advised of crossing traffic that would be 1;000 FT above us as we leveled off at our cruise altitude. The traffic was acquired visually well before our level off and presented no apparent conflict potential. Just prior to level off (approximately 300 FT) the TCAS presented a TA followed by an RA. This resulted in a momentary fly through of assigned altitude of 175 FT as observed on the Captain's PFD. An immediate return to the cruise altitude was underway even before ATC inquired about our altitude; the event was that brief. In short; in this particular situation; the TCAS essentially complicated what would have been a routine autopilot on level off with crossing traffic. I made a call to ATC upon arrival at our destination to ensure no additional information was needed or questions remained open.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.

Attributes
ACN	940986
Time
Date	201102
Local Time Of Day	1201-1800
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.ARTCC
State Reference	US
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	B737-800
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Climb
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Captain
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe Deviation - Altitude Overshoot Deviation - Procedural Clearance

A B737-800 overshot its assigned cruise altitude by 175 ft during climb and received a TCAS RA from opposite direction traffic as the reporter's aircraft returned to its assigned altitude.