Flight crew of widebody transport on vectors for a visual approach to hnl descended to 2650' when they were only cleared for 3000'. Due to their being distracted by looking for an unfamiliar runway.

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Attributes
ACN	145730
Time
Date	199005
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : hnl
State Reference	HI
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2650 msl bound upper : 2650
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : hnl
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Widebody, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : visual enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 70 flight time total : 17000 flight time type : 3000
ASRS Report	145730
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 6000 flight time type : 350
ASRS Report	145731
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

We were being radar vectored to a visibility approach to runway 8R at hnl. We were descending to an altitude of 3000' (assigned). While looking for the runway and completing our before landing checklist, when our aircraft was inadvertently descended to approximately 2650' before we realized the error and began to correct. At that moment we were cleared to 1500' and a visibility approach was completed. Several factors contributed to this error. This runway is not the standard runway for landing. There is no NAVAID for this runway and this caused more attention than usual to be directed outside the aircraft by both pilots to find the runway. We were only 7 1/2-8 mi from the runway at approximately 3000'. The controller was busy talking to other aircraft and wasn't able to clear us to 1500' earlier. We had our minds set on making a visibility approach and this caused us to overlook the altitude restriction I believe. We ha the runway in sight as we approached 3000'. There was no conflict and ATC made no mention of our altitude deviation.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLT CREW OF WDB ON VECTORS FOR A VISUAL APCH TO HNL DESCENDED TO 2650' WHEN THEY WERE ONLY CLEARED FOR 3000'. DUE TO THEIR BEING DISTRACTED BY LOOKING FOR AN UNFAMILIAR RWY.

Narrative: WE WERE BEING RADAR VECTORED TO A VIS APCH TO RWY 8R AT HNL. WE WERE DSNDING TO AN ALT OF 3000' (ASSIGNED). WHILE LOOKING FOR THE RWY AND COMPLETING OUR BEFORE LNDG CHKLIST, WHEN OUR ACFT WAS INADVERTENTLY DSNDED TO APPROX 2650' BEFORE WE REALIZED THE ERROR AND BEGAN TO CORRECT. AT THAT MOMENT WE WERE CLRED TO 1500' AND A VIS APCH WAS COMPLETED. SEVERAL FACTORS CONTRIBUTED TO THIS ERROR. THIS RWY IS NOT THE STANDARD RWY FOR LNDG. THERE IS NO NAVAID FOR THIS RWY AND THIS CAUSED MORE ATTN THAN USUAL TO BE DIRECTED OUTSIDE THE ACFT BY BOTH PLTS TO FIND THE RWY. WE WERE ONLY 7 1/2-8 MI FROM THE RWY AT APPROX 3000'. THE CTLR WAS BUSY TALKING TO OTHER ACFT AND WASN'T ABLE TO CLR US TO 1500' EARLIER. WE HAD OUR MINDS SET ON MAKING A VIS APCH AND THIS CAUSED US TO OVERLOOK THE ALT RESTRICTION I BELIEVE. WE HA THE RWY IN SIGHT AS WE APCHED 3000'. THERE WAS NO CONFLICT AND ATC MADE NO MENTION OF OUR ALT DEVIATION.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 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.