An LR24 flight crew descended below their assigned altitude while, apparently, discussing ATIS infor...

Attributes
ACN	379880
Time
Date	199709
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : eau
State Reference	WI
Altitude	msl bound lower : 22900 msl bound upper : 24000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zmp
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Learjet 24
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	arrival other arrival star : star enroute airway : zmp
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	other : unknown
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 1700 flight time type : 250
ASRS Report	379880
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : required legal separation non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance other
Consequence	Other
Miss Distance	horizontal : 30000 vertical : 500
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Missed altitude on descent to FL240. Descended to approximately FL229 before catching mistake (PNF was explaining something, ATIS?). Corrected immediately. ATC said maintain FL240, 5 seconds later, ATC asked for right turn to 360 degrees 'approximately 45 degrees right' then cleared us back on the arrival 'eau 2 arrival.'

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN LR24 FLC DSNDED BELOW THEIR ASSIGNED ALT WHILE, APPARENTLY, DISCUSSING ATIS INFO.

Narrative: MISSED ALT ON DSCNT TO FL240. DSNDED TO APPROX FL229 BEFORE CATCHING MISTAKE (PNF WAS EXPLAINING SOMETHING, ATIS?). CORRECTED IMMEDIATELY. ATC SAID MAINTAIN FL240, 5 SECONDS LATER, ATC ASKED FOR R TURN TO 360 DEGS 'APPROX 45 DEGS R' THEN CLRED US BACK ON THE ARR 'EAU 2 ARR.'

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 LR24 flight crew descended below their assigned altitude while, apparently, discussing ATIS information.