Narrative:

Prior to descent at FL370 we were given instructions of increase forward speed to maximum possible because we were #1 for arrival into stl. Approximately 30 mi northeast of spg VOR on trake arrival at mach speed .840 and increasing we were given a descent clearance to FL330. First officer read back clearance and set altitude into altitude alert. During descent, the flight attendant entered cockpit to pick up and deliver meals to crew. Due to high air noise and distraction from flight attendant in the flight crew missed altitude alert and descended through 33000 ft. Captain became aware of altitude at 31500 ft and notice 33000 ft set in altitude alert. He asked first officer if we were cleared to 31000 ft on 33000 ft? First officer said 33000 ft. Captain immediately began pull up aircraft reached 31000 ft and began climbing when TCASII gave alert for immediate climb. At same time ATC asked our heading and gave an immediate right turn 90 degrees to which we complied in both directions, climbing and a right turn. Approximately 30 degrees into turn at 32000 ft TCASII alert finished. ATC then gave us a continue to descend clearance to 24000 ft. In summary with a high speed air noise and distraction in cockpit all 3 crew members missed level off altitude.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLC OVERSHOT DSCNT ALT DUE TO DISTR CAUSING TFC CONFLICT AND ATC CTLR INTERVENTION BY GIVING AN EVASIVE TURN.

Narrative: PRIOR TO DSCNT AT FL370 WE WERE GIVEN INSTRUCTIONS OF INCREASE FORWARD SPD TO MAX POSSIBLE BECAUSE WE WERE #1 FOR ARR INTO STL. APPROX 30 MI NE OF SPG VOR ON TRAKE ARR AT MACH SPD .840 AND INCREASING WE WERE GIVEN A DSCNT CLRNC TO FL330. FO READ BACK CLRNC AND SET ALT INTO ALT ALERT. DURING DSCNT, THE FLT ATTENDANT ENTERED COCKPIT TO PICK UP AND DELIVER MEALS TO CREW. DUE TO HIGH AIR NOISE AND DISTR FROM FLT ATTENDANT IN THE FLC MISSED ALT ALERT AND DSNDED THROUGH 33000 FT. CAPT BECAME AWARE OF ALT AT 31500 FT AND NOTICE 33000 FT SET IN ALT ALERT. HE ASKED FO IF WE WERE CLRED TO 31000 FT ON 33000 FT? FO SAID 33000 FT. CAPT IMMEDIATELY BEGAN PULL UP ACFT REACHED 31000 FT AND BEGAN CLBING WHEN TCASII GAVE ALERT FOR IMMEDIATE CLB. AT SAME TIME ATC ASKED OUR HDG AND GAVE AN IMMEDIATE R TURN 90 DEGS TO WHICH WE COMPLIED IN BOTH DIRECTIONS, CLBING AND A R TURN. APPROX 30 DEGS INTO TURN AT 32000 FT TCASII ALERT FINISHED. ATC THEN GAVE US A CONTINUE TO DSND CLRNC TO 24000 FT. IN SUMMARY WITH A HIGH SPD AIR NOISE AND DISTR IN COCKPIT ALL 3 CREW MEMBERS MISSED LEVEL OFF ALT.

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.