Altitude deviation.

Attributes
ACN	319490
Time
Date	199511
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : sna
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2100 msl bound upper : 2600
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : sna
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-400
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	descent : approach descent other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 220 flight time total : 7500 flight time type : 1200
ASRS Report	319490
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : commercial pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 190 flight time total : 14100 flight time type : 900
ASRS Report	319944
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	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:

First officer was flying. I was identing the runway 19R localizer frequency. First officer heard approach give us a turn to intercept final and descend to 1600 ft cleared approach. First officer started descent, I didn't hear the transmission. So I asked approach control if we were cleared to 1600 ft. Approach advised we were cleared to 2600 ft. First officer stopped descent at 2100 ft and climbed back up to 2600 ft. Supplemental information from acn 319944: I was flying by hand. The captain was identing radios (looking down at panel). The controller issued a turn further right from 060 degrees to 170 degrees 'maintain 1600 ft until established' (I thought) 'cleared ILS runway 19R approach.' I twisted the altitude alerter to 1600 ft, announced it and, while in the turn, began descending. The captain questioned the controller about the altitude, he stated, 'I cleared you to remain at 2600 until established.' I immediately climbed from 2100 ft back toward 2600 ft and we were established on final approach course at about the same time.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ALTDEV.

Narrative: FO WAS FLYING. I WAS IDENTING THE RWY 19R LOC FREQ. FO HEARD APCH GIVE US A TURN TO INTERCEPT FINAL AND DSND TO 1600 FT CLRED APCH. FO STARTED DSCNT, I DIDN'T HEAR THE XMISSION. SO I ASKED APCH CTL IF WE WERE CLRED TO 1600 FT. APCH ADVISED WE WERE CLRED TO 2600 FT. FO STOPPED DSCNT AT 2100 FT AND CLBED BACK UP TO 2600 FT. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 319944: I WAS FLYING BY HAND. THE CAPT WAS IDENTING RADIOS (LOOKING DOWN AT PANEL). THE CTLR ISSUED A TURN FURTHER R FROM 060 DEGS TO 170 DEGS 'MAINTAIN 1600 FT UNTIL ESTABLISHED' (I THOUGHT) 'CLRED ILS RWY 19R APCH.' I TWISTED THE ALT ALERTER TO 1600 FT, ANNOUNCED IT AND, WHILE IN THE TURN, BEGAN DSNDING. THE CAPT QUESTIONED THE CTLR ABOUT THE ALT, HE STATED, 'I CLRED YOU TO REMAIN AT 2600 UNTIL ESTABLISHED.' I IMMEDIATELY CLBED FROM 2100 FT BACK TOWARD 2600 FT AND WE WERE ESTABLISHED ON FINAL APCH COURSE AT ABOUT THE SAME TIME.

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.