Narrative:

Inbound to dfw, on bowie arrival, received early clearance to cross 40 NM northwest bowie at FL240. I was descending at reduced speed in choppy air at a high rate of descent to make the crossing restr. Approaching 40 NM, noted FL230 set in altitude alert and questioned copilot on altitude setting. He said that he had heard FL240 and called ATC to confirm. I leveled off below FL240 and climbed back to FL240. I was focused on making the crossing restr and high rate of descent and believed the alert setting. The alert must have been out of the detent when set to FL240 and somehow changed in the turbulence. In believing the alert setting at a high rate of descent, I did not allow sufficient time to correct my mistake.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MD80 FLC OVERSHOT CLRED ALT IN DSCNT IN DFW AIRSPACE.

Narrative: INBOUND TO DFW, ON BOWIE ARR, RECEIVED EARLY CLRNC TO CROSS 40 NM NW BOWIE AT FL240. I WAS DSNDING AT REDUCED SPD IN CHOPPY AIR AT A HIGH RATE OF DSCNT TO MAKE THE XING RESTR. APCHING 40 NM, NOTED FL230 SET IN ALT ALERT AND QUESTIONED COPLT ON ALT SETTING. HE SAID THAT HE HAD HEARD FL240 AND CALLED ATC TO CONFIRM. I LEVELED OFF BELOW FL240 AND CLBED BACK TO FL240. I WAS FOCUSED ON MAKING THE XING RESTR AND HIGH RATE OF DSCNT AND BELIEVED THE ALERT SETTING. THE ALERT MUST HAVE BEEN OUT OF THE DETENT WHEN SET TO FL240 AND SOMEHOW CHANGED IN THE TURB. IN BELIEVING THE ALERT SETTING AT A HIGH RATE OF DSCNT, I DID NOT ALLOW SUFFICIENT TIME TO CORRECT MY MISTAKE.

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.