Narrative:

Flying at FL280 east of hill city VORTAC kansas, I was performing copilot duties when the pilot returned to the cockpit. We had just been given a new clearance from present position direct kiowa VORTAC direct den and I was setting my HSI heading bug to 270 degree -- the correct course to fly the new clearance. When the pilot asked 'what's up?' I replied, '270 for kiowa, den.' I then began to get out my den approach plates, STAR/profile descent and other area maps. I did not notice that the pilot had begun a very shallow descent (apparently 100-200 FPM) to FL270 where he leveled off. Shortly thereafter center called and asked our altitude.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLT GIVEN AMENDED CLRNC DIRECT (APPROX 270 DEGREE HEADING) CAPT RETURNED TO COCKPIT ASKED FO WHAT IS UP. FO REPLIED, TWO SEVEN OH FOR KIOWA VOR. CAPT DESCENDED FROM FL280 TO FL270. ARTCC CTLR QUESTIONED THE ALT.

Narrative: FLYING AT FL280 E OF HILL CITY VORTAC KANSAS, I WAS PERFORMING COPLT DUTIES WHEN THE PLT RETURNED TO THE COCKPIT. WE HAD JUST BEEN GIVEN A NEW CLRNC FROM PRESENT POSITION DIRECT KIOWA VORTAC DIRECT DEN AND I WAS SETTING MY HSI HDG BUG TO 270 DEG -- THE CORRECT COURSE TO FLY THE NEW CLRNC. WHEN THE PLT ASKED 'WHAT'S UP?' I REPLIED, '270 FOR KIOWA, DEN.' I THEN BEGAN TO GET OUT MY DEN APCH PLATES, STAR/PROFILE DSCNT AND OTHER AREA MAPS. I DID NOT NOTICE THAT THE PLT HAD BEGUN A VERY SHALLOW DSCNT (APPARENTLY 100-200 FPM) TO FL270 WHERE HE LEVELED OFF. SHORTLY THEREAFTER CENTER CALLED AND ASKED OUR 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.