An S80 flight crew overshoots its assigned altitude during the JVL4 arrival into ord, il.

Attributes
ACN	439370
Time
Date	199906
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : mcw.vortac
State Reference	IA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 27400 msl bound upper : 29000
Environment
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zmp.artcc tower : luk.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-80 Super 80
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other vortac
Flight Phase	cruise : enroute altitude change
Route In Use	arrival star : jvl4
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
ASRS Report	439370
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
ASRS Report	439371
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met non adherence : published procedure non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	atc equipment other atc equipment : radar other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued alert
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance Environmental Factor Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Location: jvl 4 arrival, approaching viking. I was captain for flight yyc-ord. I took a break to use restroom. As I returned I did not hook up to communication cords immediately. I requested ATIS and changeover as first officer answered a clearance to descend from msp. I heard first officer read back 'descend to FL240 by viking.' first officer began descent and I hooked my communication gear. As we were passing 27400 ft ZMP asked us our altitude. I responded with FL274. Center controller replied that our clearance was to FL290 at viking and to climb back to assigned altitude. First officer complied and told me that he had read back 'viking at FL240.' as we leveled at FL290 I asked ZMP if there was a conflict. Controller stated 'no.' lessons learned, 2 guys listening to clearance is imperative. It was my mistake for not rehooking communication immediately upon re-entering cockpit and resuming duties.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN S80 FLC OVERSHOOTS ITS ASSIGNED ALT DURING THE JVL4 ARR INTO ORD, IL.

Narrative: LOCATION: JVL 4 ARR, APCHING VIKING. I WAS CAPT FOR FLT YYC-ORD. I TOOK A BREAK TO USE RESTROOM. AS I RETURNED I DID NOT HOOK UP TO COM CORDS IMMEDIATELY. I REQUESTED ATIS AND CHANGEOVER AS FO ANSWERED A CLRNC TO DSND FROM MSP. I HEARD FO READ BACK 'DSND TO FL240 BY VIKING.' FO BEGAN DSCNT AND I HOOKED MY COM GEAR. AS WE WERE PASSING 27400 FT ZMP ASKED US OUR ALT. I RESPONDED WITH FL274. CTR CTLR REPLIED THAT OUR CLRNC WAS TO FL290 AT VIKING AND TO CLB BACK TO ASSIGNED ALT. FO COMPLIED AND TOLD ME THAT HE HAD READ BACK 'VIKING AT FL240.' AS WE LEVELED AT FL290 I ASKED ZMP IF THERE WAS A CONFLICT. CTLR STATED 'NO.' LESSONS LEARNED, 2 GUYS LISTENING TO CLRNC IS IMPERATIVE. IT WAS MY MISTAKE FOR NOT REHOOKING COM IMMEDIATELY UPON RE-ENTERING COCKPIT AND RESUMING DUTIES.

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.