AN MD88 FLC OVERSHOOTS THEIR ASSIGNED ALT ON THE MISSED APCH FROM A VISUAL TO RWY 1 AT DCA; DC.

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CONDUCTING MOUNT VERNON VISUAL TO DCA RWY 1. WINDS WERE 310 DEGS AT 32 KTS GUSTING TO 41 KTS ON SHORT FINAL. NO MISSED APCH PROC PUBLISHED; BUT SET 328 DEGS IN HDG AND 3000 FT IN FLT GUIDANCE PANEL ANYWAY. DURING GAR; ACFT CLBING IN EXCESS OF 4000 FPM WITH TOGA PWR; HAND FLYING TRYING TO KEEP OVER THE RIVER TO AVOID P56 WITH STRONG WESTERLY WINDS. AT 400 FT AGL; CALLED FOR HDG SELECT; CALLED THE MISS; VERIFIED HDG/ALT. TWR TOLD US TO INTERCEPT THE DCA 328 DEG RADIAL 3000 FT. AT ABOUT 1500 FT; CALLED FOR CLB PWR; VNAV (FLAPS TO REMAIN AT 15 DEGS). VNAV MOVED THE SPD BUG TO 250 KTS. ATC GAVE US A 270 DEG HDG AND FO ASKED IF I WANTED 180 KTS. I SAID YES. I TURNED ON THE AUTOPLT TO DECREASE WORKLOAD AT ABOUT 2500 FT. VNAV WAS IN VNAV CAPTURE MODE. FO PRESSED 'SPD SELECT' AND DIALED IN 180 KTS. THIS DESELECTED THE ALT CAPTURE MODE AND PUT AUTOPLT IN VERT SPD (+1500 FPM). AT 3250 FT; ALT BUZZER SOUNDED. I DISCONNECTED AUTOPLT AND PUSHED OVER ON THE NOSE. MAX ALT REACHED WAS 3380 FT. ATC DID NOT MENTION ANY PROB NOR DID WE SENSE ANY CONFLICT. (DEPS USUALLY ASSIGNED 5000 FT ON THIS ROUTING). CONTRIBUTING FACTORS: DESIGN OF MD88 AUTOFLT WHICH REQUIRES NON-DERATED CLB PWR EVEN IN LOW ALT LEVELOFFS. ALSO; DESIGN FLAW IN WHICH A PRESELECTED ALT CAN BE DISARMED PRIOR TO LEVELOFF. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 470044: HIGHEST ALT WAS JUST UNDER 4000 FT MSL.