Altitude deviation on descent for approach. Miscom flight crew ATC.

Attributes
ACN	321180
Time
Date	199511
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : pit
State Reference	PA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 4200 msl bound upper : 5000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Marginal
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : pit
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 80 flight time total : 2550 flight time type : 45
ASRS Report	321180
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

On a commuter flight from dubois, PA, to pittsburgh, PA, first officer (myself) PNF working the radios, accepted a clearance of 170 KTS then descend to 4000 ft. After intercepting the localizer and descending to down to above 4200 ft, approach control cleared us for the approach. He said we should be at 5000 ft. The captain immediately climbed to 5000 ft. There was no other deviation and the controller didn't ask to call him. I believe the cause of the problem may have been due to not setting the assigned altitude in the altitude selector. The cause for not setting the altitude is myself being a new first officer, and flying with a captain for first time. The other cause is breaking of the sterile cockpit rule and participating in conversation.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ALTDEV ON DSCNT FOR APCH. MISCOM FLC ATC.

Narrative: ON A COMMUTER FLT FROM DUBOIS, PA, TO PITTSBURGH, PA, FO (MYSELF) PNF WORKING THE RADIOS, ACCEPTED A CLRNC OF 170 KTS THEN DSND TO 4000 FT. AFTER INTERCEPTING THE LOC AND DSNDING TO DOWN TO ABOVE 4200 FT, APCH CTL CLRED US FOR THE APCH. HE SAID WE SHOULD BE AT 5000 FT. THE CAPT IMMEDIATELY CLBED TO 5000 FT. THERE WAS NO OTHER DEV AND THE CTLR DIDN'T ASK TO CALL HIM. I BELIEVE THE CAUSE OF THE PROB MAY HAVE BEEN DUE TO NOT SETTING THE ASSIGNED ALT IN THE ALT SELECTOR. THE CAUSE FOR NOT SETTING THE ALT IS MYSELF BEING A NEW FO, AND FLYING WITH A CAPT FOR FIRST TIME. THE OTHER CAUSE IS BREAKING OF THE STERILE COCKPIT RULE AND PARTICIPATING IN CONVERSATION.

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.