Narrative:

During IOE training en route phl to cle was given clearance to cross 10 mi east of yng VORTAC at 24,000'. In discussion with check airman on best method to enter this information into FMC, I decided to start down and then work on FMC in descent. I inadvertently selected 10,000' into flight guidance system. Again we went heads down to concentrate programming FMC for descent path. Moments later cle center requested our altitude. We looked up as we were through 22,000', leveled out at 21,000'. We informed center. WX was clear and controller just said to maintain 21,000', apparently there was no conflicting traffic. This is not a new problem. Automation has taken over in the cockpit. Computers are not learned overnight and need hands on operating experience. It all comes back to 'fly the airplane first!'

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ALT DEVIATION. ALT OVERSHOT IN DESCENT. IOE TRAINING IN PROGRESS.

Narrative: DURING IOE TRAINING ENRTE PHL TO CLE WAS GIVEN CLRNC TO CROSS 10 MI E OF YNG VORTAC AT 24,000'. IN DISCUSSION WITH CHECK AIRMAN ON BEST METHOD TO ENTER THIS INFO INTO FMC, I DECIDED TO START DOWN AND THEN WORK ON FMC IN DSCNT. I INADVERTENTLY SELECTED 10,000' INTO FLT GUIDANCE SYSTEM. AGAIN WE WENT HEADS DOWN TO CONCENTRATE PROGRAMMING FMC FOR DSCNT PATH. MOMENTS LATER CLE CENTER REQUESTED OUR ALT. WE LOOKED UP AS WE WERE THROUGH 22,000', LEVELED OUT AT 21,000'. WE INFORMED CENTER. WX WAS CLEAR AND CTLR JUST SAID TO MAINTAIN 21,000', APPARENTLY THERE WAS NO CONFLICTING TFC. THIS IS NOT A NEW PROBLEM. AUTOMATION HAS TAKEN OVER IN THE COCKPIT. COMPUTERS ARE NOT LEARNED OVERNIGHT AND NEED HANDS ON OPERATING EXPERIENCE. IT ALL COMES BACK TO 'FLY THE AIRPLANE FIRST!'

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.