Altitude deviation by flight crew of small transport commuter ending up a tiring sequence of flts.

Attributes
ACN	126703
Time
Date	198910
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : tys
State Reference	TN
Altitude	msl bound lower : 10500 msl bound upper : 11000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : ztl
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Small Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turboprop Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other descent other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 250 flight time total : 3765 flight time type : 920
ASRS Report	126703
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met non adherence : clearance other anomaly
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

On the above date/time the captain was descending from 15000 to 11000' MSL to cross 35 NM west of tys. During descent the first officer distracted the captain. The altitude alert had a weak tone and went unnoticed. At 10500' the first officer stated he forgot the 500' call. The captain pitched up and added maximum power. Total time out of altitude was estimated 20 seconds from 11000' to 10500, back to 11000. Center said nothing at all, but this capped the chain of bad events over the last 2 days with the first officer (new employee). Why was the captain not being more careful? Well, he was preparing, mentally, the first officer evaluation required by the company. This trip was #12 of a 13 leg, 2-DAY reduced rest sequence (total duty/flight times: 26 hours/11.4 hours), with a first officer who is having problems with crew concept in cockpit. In addition, first officer does not understand HSI, ATC clrncs pertaining to DME/altitude xings confuse him. My line of thinking was the evaluation, and how the first officer completed IOE training. Lesson learned: fly the plane...fly the plane...fly the plane!

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ALT DEVIATION BY FLT CREW OF SMT COMMUTER ENDING UP A TIRING SEQUENCE OF FLTS.

Narrative: ON THE ABOVE DATE/TIME THE CAPT WAS DSNDING FROM 15000 TO 11000' MSL TO CROSS 35 NM W OF TYS. DURING DSCNT THE F/O DISTRACTED THE CAPT. THE ALT ALERT HAD A WEAK TONE AND WENT UNNOTICED. AT 10500' THE F/O STATED HE FORGOT THE 500' CALL. THE CAPT PITCHED UP AND ADDED MAX PWR. TOTAL TIME OUT OF ALT WAS ESTIMATED 20 SECS FROM 11000' TO 10500, BACK TO 11000. CENTER SAID NOTHING AT ALL, BUT THIS CAPPED THE CHAIN OF BAD EVENTS OVER THE LAST 2 DAYS WITH THE F/O (NEW EMPLOYEE). WHY WAS THE CAPT NOT BEING MORE CAREFUL? WELL, HE WAS PREPARING, MENTALLY, THE F/O EVALUATION REQUIRED BY THE COMPANY. THIS TRIP WAS #12 OF A 13 LEG, 2-DAY REDUCED REST SEQUENCE (TOTAL DUTY/FLT TIMES: 26 HRS/11.4 HRS), WITH A F/O WHO IS HAVING PROBS WITH CREW CONCEPT IN COCKPIT. IN ADDITION, F/O DOES NOT UNDERSTAND HSI, ATC CLRNCS PERTAINING TO DME/ALT XINGS CONFUSE HIM. MY LINE OF THINKING WAS THE EVALUATION, AND HOW THE F/O COMPLETED IOE TRNING. LESSON LEARNED: FLY THE PLANE...FLY THE PLANE...FLY THE PLANE!

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.