Narrative:

Ord approach cleared us from 10000 ft to 9000 ft. Since I had not flown in some time, I elected to fly raw data for the initial approach. During our descent to 9000 ft we received multiple vector and confign changes. I subsequently noticed our altitude was reading 8700 ft and still descending. I immediately corrected back to 9000 ft. Obviously the distraction of several approach control directives contributed to the altitude bust. All 3 crew members were caught up in the moment. However, I (as the PF) should have made the others aware of the need for increased vigilance due to not having the autoplt or flight director on. If one is going to hand fly using raw data the obvious caveats should be verbalized. Supplemental information from acn 418577: captain had just come back from 3 month leave and seemed to be hand flying more to 'refresh' his skills. On climb out and in descent, captain made the comment, 'I forgot how to run all this (stuff)' referring to the autoplt. I believe his mishap breaking his collar bone and the resulting 3 months off were a good part of this deviation, not to mention the first officer and so (me) not remaining situationally aware during critical phase of flight. Enough said.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A DSNDING B747-200 OVERSHOT ITS ALT WHILE THE CAPT WAS HAND FLYING. THE PIC HAD BEEN OFF FOR 3 MONTHS.

Narrative: ORD APCH CLRED US FROM 10000 FT TO 9000 FT. SINCE I HAD NOT FLOWN IN SOME TIME, I ELECTED TO FLY RAW DATA FOR THE INITIAL APCH. DURING OUR DSCNT TO 9000 FT WE RECEIVED MULTIPLE VECTOR AND CONFIGN CHANGES. I SUBSEQUENTLY NOTICED OUR ALT WAS READING 8700 FT AND STILL DSNDING. I IMMEDIATELY CORRECTED BACK TO 9000 FT. OBVIOUSLY THE DISTR OF SEVERAL APCH CTL DIRECTIVES CONTRIBUTED TO THE ALT BUST. ALL 3 CREW MEMBERS WERE CAUGHT UP IN THE MOMENT. HOWEVER, I (AS THE PF) SHOULD HAVE MADE THE OTHERS AWARE OF THE NEED FOR INCREASED VIGILANCE DUE TO NOT HAVING THE AUTOPLT OR FLT DIRECTOR ON. IF ONE IS GOING TO HAND FLY USING RAW DATA THE OBVIOUS CAVEATS SHOULD BE VERBALIZED. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 418577: CAPT HAD JUST COME BACK FROM 3 MONTH LEAVE AND SEEMED TO BE HAND FLYING MORE TO 'REFRESH' HIS SKILLS. ON CLBOUT AND IN DSCNT, CAPT MADE THE COMMENT, 'I FORGOT HOW TO RUN ALL THIS (STUFF)' REFERRING TO THE AUTOPLT. I BELIEVE HIS MISHAP BREAKING HIS COLLAR BONE AND THE RESULTING 3 MONTHS OFF WERE A GOOD PART OF THIS DEV, NOT TO MENTION THE FO AND SO (ME) NOT REMAINING SITUATIONALLY AWARE DURING CRITICAL PHASE OF FLT. ENOUGH SAID.

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.