<< >> NASA ASRS Report 106680, March 1989

Cht small transport altitude deviation overshot during descent. Pilot failed to set altimeter passing transition level.

Attributes
ACN	106680
Time
Date	198903
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : bvt
State Reference	IN
Altitude	msl bound lower : 16400 msl bound upper : 17000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zau
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Small Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 170 flight time total : 7000
ASRS Report	106680
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Was given instruction to hold at boiler due to thunderstorm in chicago area. Had previously informed passenger, unable to land at meigs due to WX. Passenger became upset and irate and took out frustration on crew. Dealing with new clearance and turning up WX radar. Assessing fuel situation, stress became high. Consequently setting altimeter below 180 was missed. Level at 17000 controller said had us 600' low proper altimeter was 29.31. Thence corrected problem. This is an excellent example of how coping with additional stress not related to the specific operation of the aircraft (irate, drunk, critically sick passenger etc) can effect flight crew performance. I think this should be implemented in 135 flight training where the cockpit is open to the cabin and the flight crew must also take care of flight attendant responsibilities.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CHT SMT ALT DEVIATION OVERSHOT DURING DESCENT. PLT FAILED TO SET ALTIMETER PASSING TRANSITION LEVEL.

Narrative: WAS GIVEN INSTRUCTION TO HOLD AT BOILER DUE TO TSTM IN CHICAGO AREA. HAD PREVIOUSLY INFORMED PAX, UNABLE TO LAND AT MEIGS DUE TO WX. PAX BECAME UPSET AND IRATE AND TOOK OUT FRUSTRATION ON CREW. DEALING WITH NEW CLRNC AND TURNING UP WX RADAR. ASSESSING FUEL SITUATION, STRESS BECAME HIGH. CONSEQUENTLY SETTING ALTIMETER BELOW 180 WAS MISSED. LEVEL AT 17000 CTLR SAID HAD US 600' LOW PROPER ALTIMETER WAS 29.31. THENCE CORRECTED PROBLEM. THIS IS AN EXCELLENT EXAMPLE OF HOW COPING WITH ADDITIONAL STRESS NOT RELATED TO THE SPECIFIC OPERATION OF THE ACFT (IRATE, DRUNK, CRITICALLY SICK PAX ETC) CAN EFFECT FLT CREW PERFORMANCE. I THINK THIS SHOULD BE IMPLEMENTED IN 135 FLT TRAINING WHERE THE COCKPIT IS OPEN TO THE CABIN AND THE FLT CREW MUST ALSO TAKE CARE OF FLT ATTENDANT RESPONSIBILITIES.

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.