Altitude bust. Altitude deviation altitude undershot.

Attributes
ACN	218492
Time
Date	199208
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : lit
State Reference	AR
Altitude	msl bound lower : 32000 msl bound upper : 33000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zme
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude cruise other
Route In Use	enroute airway : j131
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 160 flight time total : 4000 flight time type : 1400
ASRS Report	218492
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : undershoot non adherence : published procedure non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course flight crew : became reoriented
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

As PF with autoplt off, captain (PNF) called '1 to go' 2400 ft prior to our assigned altitude of FL330. I did not notice that the call was early and leveled off at FL320. The autoplt was turned on at that time. We realized our error after about 10 mins during a frequency change. We immediately climbed to our assigned altitude of FL330. There was no conflict. This incident may have been prevented if the captain had used the preferred callout of '320 for 330' which would have reiterated to both of us the assigned altitude. Also, if I had been using the autoplt with its excellent altitude capture capability instead of concentrating on hand flying to a smooth level off, this report would not have been necessary.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ALT BUST. ALTDEV ALT UNDERSHOT.

Narrative: AS PF WITH AUTOPLT OFF, CAPT (PNF) CALLED '1 TO GO' 2400 FT PRIOR TO OUR ASSIGNED ALT OF FL330. I DID NOT NOTICE THAT THE CALL WAS EARLY AND LEVELED OFF AT FL320. THE AUTOPLT WAS TURNED ON AT THAT TIME. WE REALIZED OUR ERROR AFTER ABOUT 10 MINS DURING A FREQ CHANGE. WE IMMEDIATELY CLBED TO OUR ASSIGNED ALT OF FL330. THERE WAS NO CONFLICT. THIS INCIDENT MAY HAVE BEEN PREVENTED IF THE CAPT HAD USED THE PREFERRED CALLOUT OF '320 FOR 330' WHICH WOULD HAVE REITERATED TO BOTH OF US THE ASSIGNED ALT. ALSO, IF I HAD BEEN USING THE AUTOPLT WITH ITS EXCELLENT ALT CAPTURE CAPABILITY INSTEAD OF CONCENTRATING ON HAND FLYING TO A SMOOTH LEVEL OFF, THIS RPT WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN NECESSARY.

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.