The pilot reset up the FMC, but did not reset the MCP when assigned a new descent altitude of 12000 ft instead of 11000 ft. Consequently, the aircraft leveled at 11000 ft instead of 12000 ft. The controller alerted the pilot of his error and assigned him to remain at 11000 ft.

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Attributes
ACN	334594
Time
Date	199604
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : msy
State Reference	LA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 11000 msl bound upper : 12000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zhu
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B757 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	descent other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 120 flight time total : 10000 flight time type : 3000
ASRS Report	334594
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : atp pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 8000 flight time type : 2500
ASRS Report	334600
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was flying air carrier flight xyz atl-msy on apr/xa/96. We were initially cleared by ZHU to descend to and maintain 11000 ft. I set up the MCP and FMC for descent to 11000 ft. Shortly thereafter, we were reclred to maintain 12000 ft. I setup the FMC for descent to 12000 ft but failed to reset the MCP to 12000 ft. I used vertical speed mode to slow my descent and the aircraft descended to 11000 ft as initially set. Controller (ATC) notified crew of altitude deviation and reclred flight to maintain 11000 ft. No evasive action was required and no TCASII warning was noted. My failure to properly set MCP led to altitude deviation. Proper crew management and attention to crew duties would have prevented the deviation.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: THE PLT RESET UP THE FMC, BUT DID NOT RESET THE MCP WHEN ASSIGNED A NEW DSCNT ALT OF 12000 FT INSTEAD OF 11000 FT. CONSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT LEVELED AT 11000 FT INSTEAD OF 12000 FT. THE CTLR ALERTED THE PLT OF HIS ERROR AND ASSIGNED HIM TO REMAIN AT 11000 FT.

Narrative: I WAS FLYING ACR FLT XYZ ATL-MSY ON APR/XA/96. WE WERE INITIALLY CLRED BY ZHU TO DSND TO AND MAINTAIN 11000 FT. I SET UP THE MCP AND FMC FOR DSCNT TO 11000 FT. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, WE WERE RECLRED TO MAINTAIN 12000 FT. I SETUP THE FMC FOR DSCNT TO 12000 FT BUT FAILED TO RESET THE MCP TO 12000 FT. I USED VERT SPD MODE TO SLOW MY DSCNT AND THE ACFT DSNDED TO 11000 FT AS INITIALLY SET. CTLR (ATC) NOTIFIED CREW OF ALTDEV AND RECLRED FLT TO MAINTAIN 11000 FT. NO EVASIVE ACTION WAS REQUIRED AND NO TCASII WARNING WAS NOTED. MY FAILURE TO PROPERLY SET MCP LED TO ALTDEV. PROPER CREW MGMNT AND ATTN TO CREW DUTIES WOULD HAVE PREVENTED THE DEV.

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.