Narrative:

We had been on a vector by slc approach controller for runway 34L ILS in IMC. On base leg, descending to 8000 ft MSL, we encountered VMC and leveled at 8000 ft MSL. Approach turned us (copilot's leg) to a dog-leg intercept heading. Cleared us for the ILS runway 34L, maintain 7000 ft MSL until intercepting. I acknowledged. Approach then reported traffic with alert, close off the left wing, no altitude report, 'contact slc tower 132.65.' I acknowledged the traffic, switched to tower frequency and began an outside search for traffic. Salt lake #2 (U42) airport was in sight just left and below us. My first indication of trouble was that we were too low over U42, crosschecked altimeter and we were descending through 6400 ft MSL and on course (localizer track). Quick discussion with first officer revealed he thought clearance was 'maintain 6000 ft until established.' during busy moments tuning slc tower, contacting same and searching for traffic, I failed to follow company policy of verifying assigned altitude by pointing to and calling out assigned altitude. First officer gently pulled up to 6500 ft MSL and captured GS to continue an uneventful landing. Airport (slc international) was in sight during the entire event. No TA's or RA's noted.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B737-300 FLC ALLOWS THEIR ACFT TO OVERSHOOT THE ASSIGNED ALT FOR THE LOC INTERCEPT WHILE 10-15 MI S OF SLC.

Narrative: WE HAD BEEN ON A VECTOR BY SLC APCH CTLR FOR RWY 34L ILS IN IMC. ON BASE LEG, DSNDING TO 8000 FT MSL, WE ENCOUNTERED VMC AND LEVELED AT 8000 FT MSL. APCH TURNED US (COPLT'S LEG) TO A DOG-LEG INTERCEPT HDG. CLRED US FOR THE ILS RWY 34L, MAINTAIN 7000 FT MSL UNTIL INTERCEPTING. I ACKNOWLEDGED. APCH THEN RPTED TFC WITH ALERT, CLOSE OFF THE L WING, NO ALT RPT, 'CONTACT SLC TWR 132.65.' I ACKNOWLEDGED THE TFC, SWITCHED TO TWR FREQ AND BEGAN AN OUTSIDE SEARCH FOR TFC. SALT LAKE #2 (U42) ARPT WAS IN SIGHT JUST L AND BELOW US. MY FIRST INDICATION OF TROUBLE WAS THAT WE WERE TOO LOW OVER U42, XCHKED ALTIMETER AND WE WERE DSNDING THROUGH 6400 FT MSL AND ON COURSE (LOC TRACK). QUICK DISCUSSION WITH FO REVEALED HE THOUGHT CLRNC WAS 'MAINTAIN 6000 FT UNTIL ESTABLISHED.' DURING BUSY MOMENTS TUNING SLC TWR, CONTACTING SAME AND SEARCHING FOR TFC, I FAILED TO FOLLOW COMPANY POLICY OF VERIFYING ASSIGNED ALT BY POINTING TO AND CALLING OUT ASSIGNED ALT. FO GENTLY PULLED UP TO 6500 FT MSL AND CAPTURED GS TO CONTINUE AN UNEVENTFUL LNDG. ARPT (SLC INTL) WAS IN SIGHT DURING THE ENTIRE EVENT. NO TA'S OR RA'S NOTED.

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.