A B757 descending through 12;000 ft in ZBW airspace was advised that 12;000 ft was their clearance; ...

Narrative:

Boston [center] gave us crossing clearance at 12;000 ft and 250 [KTS]. We heard 11;000 ft and 250 [KTS]; set 11;000 ft; both agreed on 11;000 ft; and descended. When we questioned altitude restriction; boston [center] said 12;000 ft. [We] disengaged autopilot to arrest the descent at 11;800 ft [and the] airplane was arrested at 11;640 ft. We climbed back up to 12;000 ft. Fatigue [is an issue] because [the flight from] egcc was over 8 hours due to winds. [This] two man crew did not sleep the best due to time change in europe. This report would not have to be issued had we had a third pilot on board. This issue has been brought up many times. My fellow pilots and I agree there should be a third pilot on this trip.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B757 descending through 12;000 FT in ZBW airspace was advised that 12;000 FT was their clearance; so they returned to that altitude. Because of winds; the two pilots had flown over 8 hours from MAN and fatigue was an issue.

Narrative: Boston [Center] gave us crossing clearance at 12;000 FT and 250 [KTS]. We heard 11;000 FT and 250 [KTS]; set 11;000 FT; both agreed on 11;000 FT; and descended. When we questioned altitude restriction; Boston [Center] said 12;000 FT. [We] disengaged autopilot to arrest the descent at 11;800 FT [and the] airplane was arrested at 11;640 FT. We climbed back up to 12;000 FT. Fatigue [is an issue] because [the flight from] EGCC was over 8 hours due to winds. [This] two man crew did not sleep the best due to time change in Europe. This report would not have to be issued had we had a third pilot on board. This issue has been brought up many times. My fellow pilots and I agree there should be a third pilot on this trip.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.

Attributes
ACN	973216
Time
Date	201110
Local Time Of Day	1201-1800
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.Airport
State Reference	US
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	B757-200
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Descent
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	First Officer
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Events
Anomaly	Deviation - Altitude Overshoot Deviation - Procedural Clearance

A B757 descending through 12;000 ft in ZBW airspace was advised that 12;000 ft was their clearance; so they returned to that altitude. Because of winds; the two pilots had flown over 8 hours from man and fatigue was an issue.