An air carrier medium large transport crew overshot its descent and leveled with no apparent conflic...

Attributes
ACN	336860
Time
Date	199605
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : ftz airport : stl
State Reference	MO
Altitude	msl bound lower : 14500 msl bound upper : 15000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zkc
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
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : cfi pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 6000 flight time type : 2000
ASRS Report	336860
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

During the last leg of a 3 day trip from sat to stl at FL290, I was given a crossing restr of abeam kayla (11 DME 265 degrees from ftz VOR) at 15000 ft. A 3 to 1 ratio was used to determine the start of descent since no other method was available. The descent started at FL240 and about FL190 I noted I was behind so I increased my rate of descent to 4000-5000 FPM and 320 KTS. After the callout of 'one to go' I realized I miscalculated my target altitude and leveled off but not before overshooting 15000 ft by almost 500 ft. Without hesitation I returned to 15000 ft prior to the fix without a conflict. The deviation lasted only a few seconds and nothing was said from the controllers.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN ACR MLG CREW OVERSHOT ITS DSCNT AND LEVELED WITH NO APPARENT CONFLICT OR NOTICE BY ARTCC.

Narrative: DURING THE LAST LEG OF A 3 DAY TRIP FROM SAT TO STL AT FL290, I WAS GIVEN A XING RESTR OF ABEAM KAYLA (11 DME 265 DEGS FROM FTZ VOR) AT 15000 FT. A 3 TO 1 RATIO WAS USED TO DETERMINE THE START OF DSCNT SINCE NO OTHER METHOD WAS AVAILABLE. THE DSCNT STARTED AT FL240 AND ABOUT FL190 I NOTED I WAS BEHIND SO I INCREASED MY RATE OF DSCNT TO 4000-5000 FPM AND 320 KTS. AFTER THE CALLOUT OF 'ONE TO GO' I REALIZED I MISCALCULATED MY TARGET ALT AND LEVELED OFF BUT NOT BEFORE OVERSHOOTING 15000 FT BY ALMOST 500 FT. WITHOUT HESITATION I RETURNED TO 15000 FT PRIOR TO THE FIX WITHOUT A CONFLICT. THE DEV LASTED ONLY A FEW SECONDS AND NOTHING WAS SAID FROM THE CTLRS.

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.

An air carrier medium large transport crew overshot its descent and leveled with no apparent conflict or notice by ARTCC.