Air carrier large transport altitude deviation overshot during descent.

Attributes
ACN	104542
Time
Date	198902
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : esl
State Reference	WV
Altitude	msl bound lower : 24000 msl bound upper : 29000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	enroute airway : j30
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 250 flight time total : 7000 flight time type : 4000
ASRS Report	104542
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Cle told us to cross 25 west of kessel at FL290. I wrote that down on my pad, captain set 240 in altitude alert. I started descent to cross at FL290, then noticed FL240 setting and questioned captain. He said FL240 and I had to use speed brakes to meet that clearance. Frequency changed to ZDC and 'passing 300 for 240' not questioned. Passing FL250 controller called asking our cleared altitude. We replied FL240 and he issued immediate left turn with similar instructions to another aircraft. I should have verified altitude alert setting when I first noticed conflicting altitudes. I should have voiced my disagreement and asked for center verification. I've always felt I could block out not related pressures from my professional performance. Re-evaluation is indicated: no progress in contract negotiations. I can't sleep well on airline trips. I have diarrhea on trips. This was a scab captain. I believe the company is abusing their reserve pilots with little regard to normal cycles. News reports of FAA/government whitewash of strife at air carrier Y and any other air carrier's labor only a breath away from same situation. Captain later refused to write up sticking altimeter to keep from grounding aircraft at ont.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR LGT ALT DEVIATION OVERSHOT DURING DESCENT.

Narrative: CLE TOLD US TO CROSS 25 W OF KESSEL AT FL290. I WROTE THAT DOWN ON MY PAD, CAPT SET 240 IN ALT ALERT. I STARTED DSCNT TO CROSS AT FL290, THEN NOTICED FL240 SETTING AND QUESTIONED CAPT. HE SAID FL240 AND I HAD TO USE SPD BRAKES TO MEET THAT CLRNC. FREQ CHANGED TO ZDC AND 'PASSING 300 FOR 240' NOT QUESTIONED. PASSING FL250 CTLR CALLED ASKING OUR CLRED ALT. WE REPLIED FL240 AND HE ISSUED IMMEDIATE LEFT TURN WITH SIMILAR INSTRUCTIONS TO ANOTHER ACFT. I SHOULD HAVE VERIFIED ALT ALERT SETTING WHEN I FIRST NOTICED CONFLICTING ALTS. I SHOULD HAVE VOICED MY DISAGREEMENT AND ASKED FOR CENTER VERIFICATION. I'VE ALWAYS FELT I COULD BLOCK OUT NOT RELATED PRESSURES FROM MY PROFESSIONAL PERFORMANCE. RE-EVALUATION IS INDICATED: NO PROGRESS IN CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS. I CAN'T SLEEP WELL ON AIRLINE TRIPS. I HAVE DIARRHEA ON TRIPS. THIS WAS A SCAB CAPT. I BELIEVE THE COMPANY IS ABUSING THEIR RESERVE PLTS WITH LITTLE REGARD TO NORMAL CYCLES. NEWS RPTS OF FAA/GOVERNMENT WHITEWASH OF STRIFE AT ACR Y AND ANY OTHER ACR'S LABOR ONLY A BREATH AWAY FROM SAME SITUATION. CAPT LATER REFUSED TO WRITE UP STICKING ALTIMETER TO KEEP FROM GNDING ACFT AT ONT.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 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.