B737 crew had an altitude overshoot in fai class C airspace.

Attributes
ACN	512510
Time
Date	200105
Day	Tue
Place
Locale Reference	airport : fai.airport
State Reference	AK
Altitude	msl bound lower : 4500 msl bound upper : 5000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : phx.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	arrival : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 8000 flight time type : 3500
ASRS Report	512510
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : published procedure non adherence : far non adherence : company policies non adherence : clearance
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to assigned altitude
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

While descending to assigned altitude, we were looking for traffic ahead that we expected to be sequenced behind. Assigned altitude was 5000 ft. We descended to 4500 ft MSL before realizing our error. We promptly climbed back to 5000 ft MSL. Note: it would be better if the altitude alerter would chime at 100 ft low rather than 500 ft low.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737 CREW HAD AN ALT OVERSHOOT IN FAI CLASS C AIRSPACE.

Narrative: WHILE DSNDING TO ASSIGNED ALT, WE WERE LOOKING FOR TFC AHEAD THAT WE EXPECTED TO BE SEQUENCED BEHIND. ASSIGNED ALT WAS 5000 FT. WE DSNDED TO 4500 FT MSL BEFORE REALIZING OUR ERROR. WE PROMPTLY CLBED BACK TO 5000 FT MSL. NOTE: IT WOULD BE BETTER IF THE ALT ALERTER WOULD CHIME AT 100 FT LOW RATHER THAN 500 FT LOW.

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.