<< >> NASA ASRS Report 404607, June 1998

Flight crew of an medium large transport overshot assigned altitude during descent due to distraction by ATC communications and no altitude capture autoplt feature.

Attributes
ACN	404607
Time
Date	199806
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : msy
State Reference	LA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 27550 msl bound upper : 28000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zhu
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	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 8000 flight time type : 2500
ASRS Report	404607
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 3200 flight time type : 500
ASRS Report	404860
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	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:

We were in a descent from FL310 to FL280 at 1000 FPM, first officer flying. After calling 'FL290 for FL280,' I turned over ATC communications to the first officer and began to copy the msy ATIS. I noticed the first officer talking to ATC (but did not monitor), and when I looked up from copying ATIS I noted the altimeter passing 27900 ft. At first I thought we had been cleared to a lower altitude, and asked 'what altitude are we going to?' I simultaneously glanced at the altitude set window and saw FL280. I immediately said 'pull up.' the first officer had already initiated a pull-up, and we corrected. As we were correcting, ATC asked us to verify assigned altitude. The controller indicated that there was no problem, minimum altitude was 27550 ft.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLC OF AN MLG OVERSHOT ASSIGNED ALT DURING DSCNT DUE TO DISTR BY ATC COMS AND NO ALT CAPTURE AUTOPLT FEATURE.

Narrative: WE WERE IN A DSCNT FROM FL310 TO FL280 AT 1000 FPM, FO FLYING. AFTER CALLING 'FL290 FOR FL280,' I TURNED OVER ATC COMS TO THE FO AND BEGAN TO COPY THE MSY ATIS. I NOTICED THE FO TALKING TO ATC (BUT DID NOT MONITOR), AND WHEN I LOOKED UP FROM COPYING ATIS I NOTED THE ALTIMETER PASSING 27900 FT. AT FIRST I THOUGHT WE HAD BEEN CLRED TO A LOWER ALT, AND ASKED 'WHAT ALT ARE WE GOING TO?' I SIMULTANEOUSLY GLANCED AT THE ALT SET WINDOW AND SAW FL280. I IMMEDIATELY SAID 'PULL UP.' THE FO HAD ALREADY INITIATED A PULL-UP, AND WE CORRECTED. AS WE WERE CORRECTING, ATC ASKED US TO VERIFY ASSIGNED ALT. THE CTLR INDICATED THAT THERE WAS NO PROB, MINIMUM ALT WAS 27550 FT.

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.