F100 FO BECOMES FIXATED ON AVOIDING TSTM AND OVERSHOOTS ASSIGNED ALT ON CLBOUT FROM CLT.

Narrative

FLT WAS CLT-FAY. DEPARTED RWY 36R. INITIAL TKOF AND CLBOUT WERE NORMAL AS PER THE SID (PANTHER 5). I WAS FLYING AND ENGAGED THE AUTOPLT AT ABOUT 2000 FT AGL. WE WERE GIVEN A TURN TO INTERCEPT THE LILLS TRANSITION AND CLB TO 8000 FT. WX WAS CLOUDY WITH TSTMS IN THE AREA REQUIRING MINOR DEVS. HEADING APPROXIMATELY E; I WAS HEADED FOR A SMALL BUILDUP. THE AUTOPLT CLB PROFILE WAS GOING TO PUT US RIGHT IN THE TOPS OF THIS CLOUD FORMATION. FOR SOME REASON; I THOUGHT I WAS STILL IN THE CLB FOR 8000 FT ASSIGNED. RATHER THAN MAKE A LARGE LATERAL DEV; I DISCONNECTED THE AUTOPLT AND EASED THE NOSE UP SACRIFICING A LITTLE AIRSPD FOR A BETTER CLB ANGLE. I WAS CONSIDERING PAX AND CREW COMFORT. AS I WAS ABOUT TO TOP THE CLOUD; A CHIME ALERTER WENT OFF. I INITIALLY THOUGHT IT WAS THE AIRSPD DEV ALERT. I DID NOT SENSE A PROB SINCE I HAD CHOSE TO MAKE AN AIRSPD DEV. AS I LOOKED DOWN TO CONFIRM THE SIT; I SAW THE ALT 300 FT HIGH FROM ASSIGNED/SELECTED. THE CAPT ALSO ALERTED ME TO THE SIT. I IMMEDIATELY PUSHED OVER TO CORRECT THE ERROR. I DID NOT PUSH VERY HARD; AGAIN CONSIDERING PAX COMFORT. THE CAPT ALSO ASSISTED THE PUSHOVER. I SAW US TOP OUT AT 400 FT HIGH. THE CAPT INDICATED LATER THAT HE SAW 500 FT HIGH ON HIS ALTIMETER. IN RETROSPECT; WE DID MAKE THE 7000 FT FOR 8000 FT CALLOUT AND THE ALT ALERTER FOR LEVELOFF DID ACTIVATE. I SIMPLY GOT FIXATED ON AVOIDING THIS CLOUD FORMATION AND CLBED PAST THE 8000 FT ASSIGNMENT. IT WAS TOTALLY MY FAULT. DEP CTLR MADE NO COMMENT ON THE DEV; IF THEY EVEN SAW IT.