A B737-300 flight crew crossed above an assigned altitude near hmv.

Attributes
ACN	451150
Time
Date	199910
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : hmv.vortac
State Reference	TN
Altitude	msl bound lower : 29000 msl bound upper : 29700
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : ztl.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-300
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other other vortac
Flight Phase	cruise : descent cruise : enroute altitude change
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 13800 flight time type : 8500
ASRS Report	451150
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 160 flight time total : 12700 flight time type : 9000
ASRS Report	451046
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued advisory none taken : anomaly accepted
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

We were issued a descent clearance to FL290 40 NM northeast of hmv VOR (cruise altitude FL350). A waypoint 45 NM northeast of hmv was put in (for extra error margin) but I inadvertently put the altitude next to hmv VOR after amending the FMS route with the new waypoint. Both of us were involved in entering the data (I typed, captain watched) but we both missed the error. Shortly after, ATC asked if we were about to begin the descent. We realized the programming error and started down. The 40 NM fix was crossed at FL297, leveled at FL290 by 3 mi past fix.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B737-300 FLC CROSSED ABOVE AN ASSIGNED ALT NEAR HMV.

Narrative: WE WERE ISSUED A DSCNT CLRNC TO FL290 40 NM NE OF HMV VOR (CRUISE ALT FL350). A WAYPOINT 45 NM NE OF HMV WAS PUT IN (FOR EXTRA ERROR MARGIN) BUT I INADVERTENTLY PUT THE ALT NEXT TO HMV VOR AFTER AMENDING THE FMS RTE WITH THE NEW WAYPOINT. BOTH OF US WERE INVOLVED IN ENTERING THE DATA (I TYPED, CAPT WATCHED) BUT WE BOTH MISSED THE ERROR. SHORTLY AFTER, ATC ASKED IF WE WERE ABOUT TO BEGIN THE DSCNT. WE REALIZED THE PROGRAMMING ERROR AND STARTED DOWN. THE 40 NM FIX WAS CROSSED AT FL297, LEVELED AT FL290 BY 3 MI PAST FIX.

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.