Altitude deviation on descent.

Attributes
ACN	316227
Time
Date	199509
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : hec
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 14000 msl bound upper : 14000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zla
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	arrival other arrival star : star enroute airway : zla
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : atp pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 6000 flight time type : 75
ASRS Report	316227
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : published procedure non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	flight crew : became reoriented flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course other
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Captain was flying using very rapid descent to make altitude, hector at 14000 ft. I was doing approach descent checklist. Controller called and said check altitude. I showed 14000 ft and reported level at 14000 ft. The captain had set the incorrect altimeter. The controller called again and gave altimeter setting and said check altitude. Again I showed us within 100 ft of 14000 ft. Controller said stop mode C. We do not have that capability. After handoff, next controller confirmed normal mode C operations. I think the rapid vertical speed, 6000 FPM, may have caused some equipment problem with ATC.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ALTDEV ON DSCNT.

Narrative: CAPT WAS FLYING USING VERY RAPID DSCNT TO MAKE ALT, HECTOR AT 14000 FT. I WAS DOING APCH DSCNT CHKLIST. CTLR CALLED AND SAID CHK ALT. I SHOWED 14000 FT AND RPTED LEVEL AT 14000 FT. THE CAPT HAD SET THE INCORRECT ALTIMETER. THE CTLR CALLED AGAIN AND GAVE ALTIMETER SETTING AND SAID CHK ALT. AGAIN I SHOWED US WITHIN 100 FT OF 14000 FT. CTLR SAID STOP MODE C. WE DO NOT HAVE THAT CAPABILITY. AFTER HDOF, NEXT CTLR CONFIRMED NORMAL MODE C OPS. I THINK THE RAPID VERT SPD, 6000 FPM, MAY HAVE CAUSED SOME EQUIP PROB WITH ATC.

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.