Altitude deviation altitude excursion while on approach to foe heading into sun.

Attributes
ACN	175333
Time
Date	199104
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : foe
State Reference	KS
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3700 msl bound upper : 4000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zkc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Light Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turboprop Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Small Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turboprop Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other descent : approach other
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 : 180 flight time total : 3500 flight time type : 490
ASRS Report	175333
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 80 flight time total : 1700 flight time type : 225
ASRS Report	174834
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : clearance non adherence : required legal separation
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course other
Consequence	faa : investigated
Miss Distance	horizontal : 6000 vertical : 700
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation other
Situations
ATC Facility	procedure or policy : unspecified

Narrative:

On 4/sat/91, flying an light transport about 14 mi northeast of topeka, ks, forbes field, we were informed that we were number 2 for the field. The aircraft we were following was about 16 mi south of the field. Center cleared us down to 4000' and turned us to a heading of 180 and told us to look for the airport and traffic. At this point, with center calling traffic, the first officer and I reported the airport but not the traffic in sight. Looking into the sun, we both had a hard time locating the traffic. We were both still looking outside for the traffic when I glanced in and saw my altitude about 3700'. I immediately added power and climbed back to 4000'. At this time, center called and advised us of our altitude change. My first officer then had the traffic off our right wing on a left base for 21. Center then gave us a 270 degree left turn and informed us of a possible pilot deviation. After landing the first officer and discussed what had happened. At no point did I or my first officer feel that our aircraft or the other aircraft was in any danger.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ALT DEVIATION ALT EXCURSION WHILE ON APCH TO FOE HEADING INTO SUN.

Narrative: ON 4/SAT/91, FLYING AN LTT ABOUT 14 MI NE OF TOPEKA, KS, FORBES FIELD, WE WERE INFORMED THAT WE WERE NUMBER 2 FOR THE FIELD. THE ACFT WE WERE FOLLOWING WAS ABOUT 16 MI S OF THE FIELD. CTR CLRED US DOWN TO 4000' AND TURNED US TO A HDG OF 180 AND TOLD US TO LOOK FOR THE ARPT AND TFC. AT THIS POINT, WITH CTR CALLING TFC, THE F/O AND I RPTED THE ARPT BUT NOT THE TFC IN SIGHT. LOOKING INTO THE SUN, WE BOTH HAD A HARD TIME LOCATING THE TFC. WE WERE BOTH STILL LOOKING OUTSIDE FOR THE TFC WHEN I GLANCED IN AND SAW MY ALT ABOUT 3700'. I IMMEDIATELY ADDED PWR AND CLBED BACK TO 4000'. AT THIS TIME, CTR CALLED AND ADVISED US OF OUR ALT CHANGE. MY F/O THEN HAD THE TFC OFF OUR R WING ON A L BASE FOR 21. CTR THEN GAVE US A 270 DEG L TURN AND INFORMED US OF A POSSIBLE PLT DEV. AFTER LNDG THE F/O AND DISCUSSED WHAT HAD HAPPENED. AT NO POINT DID I OR MY F/O FEEL THAT OUR ACFT OR THE OTHER ACFT WAS IN ANY DANGER.

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.