Medium Transport
Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 160; Flight Crew Total 1470; Flight Crew Type 500
Communication Breakdown; Distraction; Time Pressure
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude; Deviation - Altitude Overshoot; Deviation - Speed All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Flight Crew Returned To Clearance
Environment - Non Weather Related; ATC Equipment / Nav Facility / Buildings; Human Factors
We were delayed yesterday because of ATC issues. By the time we took off it was dark and we had been up for 12 hours. As we flew east off the coast of State X we encountered moderate turbulence and precipitation. The Captain got distracted and as we leveled off at 7;000 feet his speed began to increase. I called out 'Speed' and he did not acknowledge so again I said 'Watch your speed.' By this time we were doing around 275 knots and I don't why but he thought we should continue the climb so he used the autopilot to begin to climb the plane. I immediately told him to maintain 7;000 and reduce his speed. The initiated climb resulted in an altitude gain of 400 feet and the Controller told us to maintain 7;000 feet. We returned to 7;000 with no other issues and slowed. I was told our delay was a result of staffing issues at ZZZ center because of COVID-19. This is by far the longest ATC delay I have experienced and I definitely know fatigue was a factor hear. Do I think we were unsafe? No; I do not. That being said I don't think we were the tip of the spear that late in the day. ATC was super busy on the radios and we tried calling several times to request higher to get out of the weather we were in to no avail. Under staffing; busy airspace; delays; fatigue; and weather all combined would be the problem in my opinion. As well as pressure to get the job done.
First Officer reported a speed and altitude deviation during departure and cited fatigue from a lengthy ATC COVID-19 related delay as contributing factor.