Altitude deviation overshoot.

Attributes
ACN	435550
Time
Date	199904
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : pia.vortac
State Reference	IL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 10000 msl bound upper : 17000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zau.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	SF 340A
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other vortac
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	arrival other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 270 flight time total : 5000 flight time type : 2000
ASRS Report	435550
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

It was the first officer's 3RD day of IOE. It was also his leg of the trip. I left our primary frequency to let our company know that we were in range to peoria. When I returned, the first officer told me that we were given a clearance to descend from 17000 ft to 7000 ft MSL. He was not 100% sure for some reason, so we clarified the clearance to 7000 ft. ATC responded with a 'roger.' unknown to me, the clearance was actually pilot's discretion to 13000 ft. As we descended below 10000 ft, ZAU advised us to stop at 10000 ft and asked us what we were doing. I think some of the contributing factors were: 1) first officer was new and inexperienced. 2) ZAU controller was working more than 1 frequency. 3) my trusting the ability of a new pilot. I will be much more vigilant in the future.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ALTDEV OVERSHOOT.

Narrative: IT WAS THE FO'S 3RD DAY OF IOE. IT WAS ALSO HIS LEG OF THE TRIP. I LEFT OUR PRIMARY FREQ TO LET OUR COMPANY KNOW THAT WE WERE IN RANGE TO PEORIA. WHEN I RETURNED, THE FO TOLD ME THAT WE WERE GIVEN A CLRNC TO DSND FROM 17000 FT TO 7000 FT MSL. HE WAS NOT 100% SURE FOR SOME REASON, SO WE CLARIFIED THE CLRNC TO 7000 FT. ATC RESPONDED WITH A 'ROGER.' UNKNOWN TO ME, THE CLRNC WAS ACTUALLY PLT'S DISCRETION TO 13000 FT. AS WE DSNDED BELOW 10000 FT, ZAU ADVISED US TO STOP AT 10000 FT AND ASKED US WHAT WE WERE DOING. I THINK SOME OF THE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE: 1) FO WAS NEW AND INEXPERIENCED. 2) ZAU CTLR WAS WORKING MORE THAN 1 FREQ. 3) MY TRUSTING THE ABILITY OF A NEW PLT. I WILL BE MUCH MORE VIGILANT IN THE FUTURE.

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.