B737-300 approaching stl overshoots descent to 15000 ft.

Attributes
ACN	342968
Time
Date	199607
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : ftz airport : stl
State Reference	MO
Altitude	msl bound lower : 14000 msl bound upper : 15000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zkc tower : tus
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-300
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	cruise other descent other
Route In Use	arrival other arrival star : star
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 750 flight time total : 11000
ASRS Report	342968
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 240 flight time total : 16800 flight time type : 7000
ASRS Report	343250
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	flight crew : became reoriented 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:

Descending into stl on the trake 7 arrival center clearance was to cross 15 mi west of ftz VOR at 15000 ft. Approach plate shows this fix as kayla intersection and states expect to cross kayla at 11000 ft. After reading back clearance I went off frequency to contact company radio without verifying altitude set in mode control panel which was 11000 ft. The confusion was 11 mi out over 11000 ft as stated on approach plate. As we descended through 15000 ft the controller asked if we were leveling at 15000 ft. I answered yes and the captain promptly climbed back to 15000 ft. There were no conflicts with traffic. Controller did not request a call so we assumed no action pending.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737-300 APCHING STL OVERSHOOTS DSCNT TO 15000 FT.

Narrative: DSNDING INTO STL ON THE TRAKE 7 ARR CTR CLRNC WAS TO CROSS 15 MI W OF FTZ VOR AT 15000 FT. APCH PLATE SHOWS THIS FIX AS KAYLA INTXN AND STATES EXPECT TO CROSS KAYLA AT 11000 FT. AFTER READING BACK CLRNC I WENT OFF FREQ TO CONTACT COMPANY RADIO WITHOUT VERIFYING ALT SET IN MODE CTL PANEL WHICH WAS 11000 FT. THE CONFUSION WAS 11 MI OUT OVER 11000 FT AS STATED ON APCH PLATE. AS WE DSNDED THROUGH 15000 FT THE CTLR ASKED IF WE WERE LEVELING AT 15000 FT. I ANSWERED YES AND THE CAPT PROMPTLY CLBED BACK TO 15000 FT. THERE WERE NO CONFLICTS WITH TFC. CTLR DID NOT REQUEST A CALL SO WE ASSUMED NO ACTION PENDING.

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.