Air carrier flight crew has altitude deviation during route change setup.

Attributes
ACN	161156
Time
Date	199010
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : gve
State Reference	VA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 39000 msl bound upper : 39400
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Light Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 120 flight time total : 1200
ASRS Report	161156
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : atp pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 55 flight time total : 3500
ASRS Report	161333
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

After being cleared to FL390 we received the third revised ATC routing. With the autoplt on and the altitude select armed the autoplt failed to level off at FL390. This was not immediately recognized by the crew because we were studying the new routing just received. At FL393 I noticed we were still climbing and advised the PF. He immediately initiated a descent to FL390. ZDC called to confirm our altitude and then gave us another revised route. The routing confusion was caused by our destination of gainesville, GA that ATC kept confusing with gainesville, fl. The result is that we had about a 300-400 ft altitude deviation due to crew coordination and possible autoplt malfunction. However, should be noted the autoplt operated normally for the rest of the flight.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR FLT CREW HAS ALT DEVIATION DURING ROUTE CHANGE SETUP.

Narrative: AFTER BEING CLRED TO FL390 WE RECEIVED THE THIRD REVISED ATC RTING. WITH THE AUTOPLT ON AND THE ALT SELECT ARMED THE AUTOPLT FAILED TO LEVEL OFF AT FL390. THIS WAS NOT IMMEDIATELY RECOGNIZED BY THE CREW BECAUSE WE WERE STUDYING THE NEW RTING JUST RECEIVED. AT FL393 I NOTICED WE WERE STILL CLBING AND ADVISED THE PF. HE IMMEDIATELY INITIATED A DSNT TO FL390. ZDC CALLED TO CONFIRM OUR ALT AND THEN GAVE US ANOTHER REVISED RTE. THE RTING CONFUSION WAS CAUSED BY OUR DEST OF GAINESVILLE, GA THAT ATC KEPT CONFUSING WITH GAINESVILLE, FL. THE RESULT IS THAT WE HAD ABOUT A 300-400 FT ALT DEV DUE TO CREW COORD AND POSSIBLE AUTOPLT MALFUNCTION. HOWEVER, SHOULD BE NOTED THE AUTOPLT OPERATED NORMALLY FOR THE REST OF THE FLT.

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.