B737 flight crew has altitude deviation during the final approach to mco.

Attributes
ACN	514430
Time
Date	200106
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : orl.airport
State Reference	FL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2000 msl bound upper : 2500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-200
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : visual
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 250 flight time total : 4000 flight time type : 1000
ASRS Report	514430
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : published procedure non adherence : clearance
Resolutory Action	controller : issued advisory flight crew : returned to assigned altitude
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

The event occurred during an en route descent into orlando IAP from the north, while on a vector to runway 18R. I (PF) was offered and accepted a visual to runway 18L with a restr to remain at or above 2500 ft MSL until south of the mco VOR. I was already descending out of 6000 ft for 3000 ft while configuring for landing when I accepted the visual. As I was in the turn for runway 18L, the captain (PNF) stated we were still north of the VOR. I noticed that we were passing through 2300 ft MSL so I arrested the descent at 2000 ft and started a climb back to 2500 ft MSL. Orlando tower asked us to confirm our altitude and advised us of the 2500 ft restr. I should have never accepted the visual with the 2500 ft restr. It requires a gradient of 4.4 degrees to make a landing on runway 18L. Since I was well above 2500 ft when I accepted the visual, I felt much higher than usual and concentrated on losing altitude to make a normal approach with a 3.0 degree gradient. However, I should have been concentrating on the 2500 ft restr.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737 FLT CREW HAS ALTDEV DURING THE FINAL APCH TO MCO.

Narrative: THE EVENT OCCURRED DURING AN ENRTE DSCNT INTO ORLANDO IAP FROM THE N, WHILE ON A VECTOR TO RWY 18R. I (PF) WAS OFFERED AND ACCEPTED A VISUAL TO RWY 18L WITH A RESTR TO REMAIN AT OR ABOVE 2500 FT MSL UNTIL S OF THE MCO VOR. I WAS ALREADY DSNDING OUT OF 6000 FT FOR 3000 FT WHILE CONFIGURING FOR LNDG WHEN I ACCEPTED THE VISUAL. AS I WAS IN THE TURN FOR RWY 18L, THE CAPT (PNF) STATED WE WERE STILL N OF THE VOR. I NOTICED THAT WE WERE PASSING THROUGH 2300 FT MSL SO I ARRESTED THE DSCNT AT 2000 FT AND STARTED A CLB BACK TO 2500 FT MSL. ORLANDO TWR ASKED US TO CONFIRM OUR ALT AND ADVISED US OF THE 2500 FT RESTR. I SHOULD HAVE NEVER ACCEPTED THE VISUAL WITH THE 2500 FT RESTR. IT REQUIRES A GRADIENT OF 4.4 DEGS TO MAKE A LNDG ON RWY 18L. SINCE I WAS WELL ABOVE 2500 FT WHEN I ACCEPTED THE VISUAL, I FELT MUCH HIGHER THAN USUAL AND CONCENTRATED ON LOSING ALT TO MAKE A NORMAL APCH WITH A 3.0 DEG GRADIENT. HOWEVER, I SHOULD HAVE BEEN CONCENTRATING ON THE 2500 FT RESTR.

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.