Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 20; Flight Crew Total 25000; Flight Crew Type 800
Confusion; Distraction; Situational Awareness; Workload
Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Inflight Event / Encounter Loss Of Aircraft Control
Flight Crew Regained Aircraft Control; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Human Factors; Weather
While flying with my 80+ year old; Air Force trained; employer; who was hand flying in the left seat; we entered clouds after takeoff at around 2;000 FT MSL. When assigned a heading of 340 degrees; the pilot flying lost situational awareness requiring my intervention (while climbing; bank exceeded 50 degrees with a nose down pitch of around 10 degrees). Once under control we completed our climbing left turn with a clearance to 8;000 FT. As we approached 8;000 FT we received a frequency change; after I tuned the new frequency and prior to checking on I noticed our altitude bust. We were subsequently cleared to 11;000 FT; where we broke out of clouds on top. The remainder of the flight was uneventful. I've flown with my employer on many occasions; over 9 years; and in various flight conditions without incident; I consider him a good pilot; and was surprised at this unexpected loss of control on this occasion. We have discussed the event; but I'm very embarrassed about our altitude bust; fortunately there was not a resulting traffic conflict; and I would like to thank the Air Traffic Controller for his understanding and professionalism.
A DA-20 First Officer assumed control of the aircraft in IMC after the elderly pilot flying lost situational awareness during a climbing turn and banked in excess of 50 degrees; 10 degrees nose down.