Large transport advance technology in VNAV rapid descent overshot cleared altitude of 17000'. Altimeter was 29 pt 59, and by the time flight crew called for setting altimeter at 18000', and set to 29 pt 59, aircraft had overshot cleared altitude.

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Attributes
ACN	101691
Time
Date	198901
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : ric
State Reference	VA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 16600 msl bound upper : 17000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	enroute airway : zdc
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer observation : company check pilot
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time total : 15000 flight time type : 600
ASRS Report	101691
Person 2
Function	flight crew : captain
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Descending on VNAV to cross ric VOR 015 degree rad at 17000', new captain called for altitude setting and inrange checklist. At 18000' (FL180) by time got altimeter set at 29.59, slightly below our assigned altitude. This points up a problem with these FMC birds. Computers wait till last possible second to start aircraft down. Dscnts at 4000' per minute. If pressure setting low, you could bust altitude.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: LGT ADVANCE TECHNOLOGY IN VNAV RAPID DESCENT OVERSHOT CLEARED ALT OF 17000'. ALTIMETER WAS 29 PT 59, AND BY THE TIME FLT CREW CALLED FOR SETTING ALTIMETER AT 18000', AND SET TO 29 PT 59, ACFT HAD OVERSHOT CLEARED ALT.

Narrative: DSNDING ON VNAV TO CROSS RIC VOR 015 DEG RAD AT 17000', NEW CAPT CALLED FOR ALT SETTING AND INRANGE CHKLIST. AT 18000' (FL180) BY TIME GOT ALTIMETER SET AT 29.59, SLIGHTLY BELOW OUR ASSIGNED ALT. THIS POINTS UP A PROB WITH THESE FMC BIRDS. COMPUTERS WAIT TILL LAST POSSIBLE SECOND TO START ACFT DOWN. DSCNTS AT 4000' PER MINUTE. IF PRESSURE SETTING LOW, YOU COULD BUST ALT.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 2007 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.