DC9-30 altitude deviation on arrival to lga.

Attributes
ACN	439310
Time
Date	199906
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : dpk.vor
State Reference	NY
Altitude	msl bound lower : 7700 msl bound upper : 8000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zny.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	DC-9 30
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other vortac
Flight Phase	descent : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	arrival star : rka 2
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 15000 flight time type : 12000
ASRS Report	439310
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 220 flight time total : 12000 flight time type : 6000
ASRS Report	439347
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance non adherence : far
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment : altitude alert other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued alert flight crew : returned to assigned airspace
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Descending on rka 2 STAR into lga from buf. Asked to go maximum speed for spacing into lga. At a point 68 NM from dpk on 338 degree radial, ATC (ZNY) asked me to descend (with lower crossing traffic in sight) from 16000 ft to 9000 ft in 20 NM, which is valre intersection. Rapid descent made to make the 9000 ft restr at valre. Subsequent descent clearance given to 8000 ft on the 338 degree radial of dpk. Started preliminary landing checklist and I was briefing my approach into lga when I inadvertently descended to 7700 ft MSL instead of 8000 ft MSL. ZNY caught the deviation of 300 ft low and called us to return to 8000 ft MSL, which we immediately did.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: DC9-30 ALTDEV ON ARR TO LGA.

Narrative: DSNDING ON RKA 2 STAR INTO LGA FROM BUF. ASKED TO GO MAX SPD FOR SPACING INTO LGA. AT A POINT 68 NM FROM DPK ON 338 DEG RADIAL, ATC (ZNY) ASKED ME TO DSND (WITH LOWER XING TFC IN SIGHT) FROM 16000 FT TO 9000 FT IN 20 NM, WHICH IS VALRE INTXN. RAPID DSCNT MADE TO MAKE THE 9000 FT RESTR AT VALRE. SUBSEQUENT DSCNT CLRNC GIVEN TO 8000 FT ON THE 338 DEG RADIAL OF DPK. STARTED PRELIMINARY LNDG CHKLIST AND I WAS BRIEFING MY APCH INTO LGA WHEN I INADVERTENTLY DSNDED TO 7700 FT MSL INSTEAD OF 8000 FT MSL. ZNY CAUGHT THE DEV OF 300 FT LOW AND CALLED US TO RETURN TO 8000 FT MSL, WHICH WE IMMEDIATELY DID.

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.