On descent, distracted crew undershot assigned altitude.

Attributes
ACN	492200
Time
Date	200011
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	intersection : sweet
State Reference	NJ
Altitude	msl bound lower : 6000 msl bound upper : 8000
Environment
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : n90.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : vacating altitude
Route In Use	arrival star : fqm.fom 1
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 7000 flight time type : 621
ASRS Report	492200
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : multi engine
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met altitude deviation : undershoot non adherence : company policies non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted none taken : detected after the fact
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

While on the williamsport one arrival into ewr, we were instructed to cross sweet intersection at 7000 ft. I was PIC using the autoplt and vertical speed to make the crossing. Prior to reaching 10000 ft I reduced the rate of descent in order to slow from 300 to 250 KIAS. I was then distracted looking at the ATIS and failed to reestablish my descent rate after slowing. We crossed sweet at approximately 8000 ft at which time we were cleared to 6000 ft. I immediately increased descent rate and descended to 6000 ft. The controller made no mention of the altitude deviation.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ON DSCNT, DISTRACTED CREW UNDERSHOT ASSIGNED ALT.

Narrative: WHILE ON THE WILLIAMSPORT ONE ARR INTO EWR, WE WERE INSTRUCTED TO CROSS SWEET INTXN AT 7000 FT. I WAS PIC USING THE AUTOPLT AND VERT SPD TO MAKE THE XING. PRIOR TO REACHING 10000 FT I REDUCED THE RATE OF DSCNT IN ORDER TO SLOW FROM 300 TO 250 KIAS. I WAS THEN DISTRACTED LOOKING AT THE ATIS AND FAILED TO REESTABLISH MY DSCNT RATE AFTER SLOWING. WE CROSSED SWEET AT APPROX 8000 FT AT WHICH TIME WE WERE CLRED TO 6000 FT. I IMMEDIATELY INCREASED DSCNT RATE AND DSNDED TO 6000 FT. THE CTLR MADE NO MENTION OF THE ALTDEV.

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.