An air carrier B727 flight crew descended below their assigned altitude when the flight crew was distraction by the landing data form.

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Attributes
ACN	393790
Time
Date	199802
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : vhp
State Reference	IN
Altitude	msl bound lower : 23600 msl bound upper : 24000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zid
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B727 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 5000 flight time type : 350
ASRS Report	393790
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 170 flight time total : 12000 flight time type : 170
ASRS Report	394255
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified other controllera 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:

While descending from FL280 to FL240, we overshot our leveloff and descended to FL236 before correcting back to FL240. Within 150 ft of leveling back at FL240, ZID asked if we were level at FL240. I responded 'yes.' the mistake was caused by the crew discussing the landing confign of the aircraft while descending. In the future at least 1 person will monitor the aircraft during all phases of flight. Supplemental information from acn 394255: while descending to assigned altitude of FL240, I overshot the leveloff. I bottomed out at FL236 and quickly climbed to FL240. As I was climbing through FL238.5 ZID asked if we were level at FL240. There was traffic behind and below us, but it never caused a TCASII alert. My diverting attention from the leveloff when my so handed up the performance card and landing information to ord caused this distraction. It took my attention away from the leveloff at the wrong time, but I discovered it quickly and corrected the error. Hopefully there will be no violation and fortunately there was no need for evasive maneuvering.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN ACR B727 FLC DSNDED BELOW THEIR ASSIGNED ALT WHEN THE FLC WAS DISTR BY THE LNDG DATA FORM.

Narrative: WHILE DSNDING FROM FL280 TO FL240, WE OVERSHOT OUR LEVELOFF AND DSNDED TO FL236 BEFORE CORRECTING BACK TO FL240. WITHIN 150 FT OF LEVELING BACK AT FL240, ZID ASKED IF WE WERE LEVEL AT FL240. I RESPONDED 'YES.' THE MISTAKE WAS CAUSED BY THE CREW DISCUSSING THE LNDG CONFIGN OF THE ACFT WHILE DSNDING. IN THE FUTURE AT LEAST 1 PERSON WILL MONITOR THE ACFT DURING ALL PHASES OF FLT. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 394255: WHILE DSNDING TO ASSIGNED ALT OF FL240, I OVERSHOT THE LEVELOFF. I BOTTOMED OUT AT FL236 AND QUICKLY CLBED TO FL240. AS I WAS CLBING THROUGH FL238.5 ZID ASKED IF WE WERE LEVEL AT FL240. THERE WAS TFC BEHIND AND BELOW US, BUT IT NEVER CAUSED A TCASII ALERT. MY DIVERTING ATTN FROM THE LEVELOFF WHEN MY SO HANDED UP THE PERFORMANCE CARD AND LNDG INFO TO ORD CAUSED THIS DISTR. IT TOOK MY ATTN AWAY FROM THE LEVELOFF AT THE WRONG TIME, BUT I DISCOVERED IT QUICKLY AND CORRECTED THE ERROR. HOPEFULLY THERE WILL BE NO VIOLATION AND FORTUNATELY THERE WAS NO NEED FOR EVASIVE MANEUVERING.

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.