An MD83 crew, descending on a STAR into sea, overshot a published crossing altitude.

Attributes
ACN	530816
Time
Date	200111
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : olm.vortac
State Reference	WA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 10000 msl bound upper : 12000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zse.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-83
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121 other : 201
Navigation In Use	other vortac
Flight Phase	descent : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 75 flight time total : 14000 flight time type : 3500
ASRS Report	530816
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : published procedure non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued advisory controller : issued new clearance
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Chart Or Publication Flight Crew Human Performance Airport
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Cleared to 'descend via olympia 3 arrival landing north.' we briefed incorrectly the arrival and inadvertently descended to cross the VOR at 10000 ft MSL. Center asked us to verify altitude and pointed out our error. No conflict was evident and ATC told us to 'maintain 10000 ft' at this point. We were handed over to sea approach at the VOR and continued inbound without further problems. Our concern is that the 'new' language on the plate (commercial) is confusing and easily misconstrued. I have had several first officer's brief the 10000 ft altitude (when it should be 12000 ft). The language or format should be simplified or clarified so as to make errors less likely.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN MD83 CREW, DSNDING ON A STAR INTO SEA, OVERSHOT A PUBLISHED XING ALT.

Narrative: CLRED TO 'DSND VIA OLYMPIA 3 ARR LNDG N.' WE BRIEFED INCORRECTLY THE ARR AND INADVERTENTLY DSNDED TO CROSS THE VOR AT 10000 FT MSL. CTR ASKED US TO VERIFY ALT AND POINTED OUT OUR ERROR. NO CONFLICT WAS EVIDENT AND ATC TOLD US TO 'MAINTAIN 10000 FT' AT THIS POINT. WE WERE HANDED OVER TO SEA APCH AT THE VOR AND CONTINUED INBOUND WITHOUT FURTHER PROBS. OUR CONCERN IS THAT THE 'NEW' LANGUAGE ON THE PLATE (COMMERCIAL) IS CONFUSING AND EASILY MISCONSTRUED. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL FO'S BRIEF THE 10000 FT ALT (WHEN IT SHOULD BE 12000 FT). THE LANGUAGE OR FORMAT SHOULD BE SIMPLIFIED OR CLARIFIED SO AS TO MAKE ERRORS LESS LIKELY.

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.