Commuter light transport altitude deviation overshot during descent.

Attributes
ACN	196698
Time
Date	199109
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : ccc
State Reference	NY
Altitude	msl bound lower : 7400 msl bound upper : 8000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : pvd
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Light Transport, High Wing, 2 Turboprop Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other descent other
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 210 flight time total : 2200 flight time type : 250
ASRS Report	196698
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	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:

During cruise flight ocean approach cleared us from 10000 ft to 8000 and direct to calverton VOR. The captain responded to the radio. I selected the VOR to CCC, turned the heading bug (aircraft was on autoplt) and selected vertical speed of 600 FPM. The aircraft turned and proceeded down at 600 FPM. At that point the flight attendant entered the cockpit to deliver coffee and left the cockpit. 2 mins later the captain asked what altitude we were going to, which promoted me to check the altitude, which indicated 7400 ft. I took the autoplt off and climbed quickly to 8000 ft. The cause: I assumed the captain selected the altitude when receiving the new clearance, but as the PF neglected to check the altitude selector when the flight attendant came into the cockpit. The distraction of the flight attendant, at that moment, changed my flow of duties which made me descend through my assigned altitude of 8000 ft. Even though this mistake did not cause a problem, it has opened my eyes once again to always be focused on the job at hand and not let distrs interrupt your flow of duty.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: COMMUTER LTT ALTDEV OVERSHOT DURING DSCNT.

Narrative: DURING CRUISE FLT OCEAN APCH CLRED US FROM 10000 FT TO 8000 AND DIRECT TO CALVERTON VOR. THE CAPT RESPONDED TO THE RADIO. I SELECTED THE VOR TO CCC, TURNED THE HDG BUG (ACFT WAS ON AUTOPLT) AND SELECTED VERT SPD OF 600 FPM. THE ACFT TURNED AND PROCEEDED DOWN AT 600 FPM. AT THAT POINT THE FLT ATTENDANT ENTERED THE COCKPIT TO DELIVER COFFEE AND LEFT THE COCKPIT. 2 MINS LATER THE CAPT ASKED WHAT ALT WE WERE GOING TO, WHICH PROMOTED ME TO CHK THE ALT, WHICH INDICATED 7400 FT. I TOOK THE AUTOPLT OFF AND CLBED QUICKLY TO 8000 FT. THE CAUSE: I ASSUMED THE CAPT SELECTED THE ALT WHEN RECEIVING THE NEW CLRNC, BUT AS THE PF NEGLECTED TO CHK THE ALT SELECTOR WHEN THE FLT ATTENDANT CAME INTO THE COCKPIT. THE DISTR OF THE FLT ATTENDANT, AT THAT MOMENT, CHANGED MY FLOW OF DUTIES WHICH MADE ME DSND THROUGH MY ASSIGNED ALT OF 8000 FT. EVEN THOUGH THIS MISTAKE DID NOT CAUSE A PROBLEM, IT HAS OPENED MY EYES ONCE AGAIN TO ALWAYS BE FOCUSED ON THE JOB AT HAND AND NOT LET DISTRS INTERRUPT YOUR FLOW OF DUTY.

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.