Flight crew of a widebody transport overshot descent altitude due to the PF misunderstanding of an a...

Attributes
ACN	345970
Time
Date	199608
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : gck
State Reference	KS
Altitude	msl bound lower : 28000 msl bound upper : 29000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdv
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	observation : company check pilot
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 7000 flight time type : 700
ASRS Report	345970
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was instructor pilot for first time captain during initial IOE. Flight was on descent, cleared from cruise altitude to FL290. The PF was the IOE captain. He entered FL290 in the flight control panel and I confirmed the entry as descent was initiated. I took out our performance computer to enter our landing information. As I was making the entries, ZDV called and instructed us to maintain 280 KTS. The PF didn't catch the transmission fully and I said to him '280' (two eighty) as he pointed at the flight control panel. I returned to the performance computer and after about 2 mins looked at our altimeter and realized (with horror) that we were level at FL280! Agghh! I immediately reported the mix-up to den, and after a long long pause, the controller said, 'that's ok, continue descent.' cause: 1) my failure as instructor pilot to effectively monitor the 'new guy.' 2) the 'new guy's' failure to use company altitude verification procedures. He thought I meant for him to enter FL280. He then entered that altitude and did not ask for verification of the new altitude from the PNF (me) -- a violation of SOP. Had he asked for verification, the error would have been caught immediately.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLC OF A WDB OVERSHOT DSCNT ALT DUE TO THE PF MISUNDERSTANDING OF AN AIRSPD RESTR FOR ALT.

Narrative: I WAS INSTRUCTOR PLT FOR FIRST TIME CAPT DURING INITIAL IOE. FLT WAS ON DSCNT, CLRED FROM CRUISE ALT TO FL290. THE PF WAS THE IOE CAPT. HE ENTERED FL290 IN THE FLT CTL PANEL AND I CONFIRMED THE ENTRY AS DSCNT WAS INITIATED. I TOOK OUT OUR PERFORMANCE COMPUTER TO ENTER OUR LNDG INFO. AS I WAS MAKING THE ENTRIES, ZDV CALLED AND INSTRUCTED US TO MAINTAIN 280 KTS. THE PF DIDN'T CATCH THE XMISSION FULLY AND I SAID TO HIM '280' (TWO EIGHTY) AS HE POINTED AT THE FLT CTL PANEL. I RETURNED TO THE PERFORMANCE COMPUTER AND AFTER ABOUT 2 MINS LOOKED AT OUR ALTIMETER AND REALIZED (WITH HORROR) THAT WE WERE LEVEL AT FL280! AGGHH! I IMMEDIATELY RPTED THE MIX-UP TO DEN, AND AFTER A LONG LONG PAUSE, THE CTLR SAID, 'THAT'S OK, CONTINUE DSCNT.' CAUSE: 1) MY FAILURE AS INSTRUCTOR PLT TO EFFECTIVELY MONITOR THE 'NEW GUY.' 2) THE 'NEW GUY'S' FAILURE TO USE COMPANY ALT VERIFICATION PROCS. HE THOUGHT I MEANT FOR HIM TO ENTER FL280. HE THEN ENTERED THAT ALT AND DID NOT ASK FOR VERIFICATION OF THE NEW ALT FROM THE PNF (ME) -- A VIOLATION OF SOP. HAD HE ASKED FOR VERIFICATION, THE ERROR WOULD HAVE BEEN CAUGHT IMMEDIATELY.

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.

Flight crew of a widebody transport overshot descent altitude due to the PF misunderstanding of an airspeed restr for altitude.