Altitude deviation. Altitude overshot in descent. IOE training in progress.

Attributes
ACN	116912
Time
Date	198907
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : djb
State Reference	OH
Altitude	msl bound lower : 21000 msl bound upper : 35000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zob
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	enroute airway : zob
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain instruction : trainee
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 140 flight time total : 20000 flight time type : 10
ASRS Report	116912
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer observation : company check pilot oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance none taken : detected after the fact other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

During IOE training en route phl to cle was given clearance to cross 10 mi east of yng VORTAC at 24,000'. In discussion with check airman on best method to enter this information into FMC, I decided to start down and then work on FMC in descent. I inadvertently selected 10,000' into flight guidance system. Again we went heads down to concentrate programming FMC for descent path. Moments later cle center requested our altitude. We looked up as we were through 22,000', leveled out at 21,000'. We informed center. WX was clear and controller just said to maintain 21,000', apparently there was no conflicting traffic. This is not a new problem. Automation has taken over in the cockpit. Computers are not learned overnight and need hands on operating experience. It all comes back to 'fly the airplane first!'

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ALT DEVIATION. ALT OVERSHOT IN DESCENT. IOE TRAINING IN PROGRESS.

Narrative: DURING IOE TRAINING ENRTE PHL TO CLE WAS GIVEN CLRNC TO CROSS 10 MI E OF YNG VORTAC AT 24,000'. IN DISCUSSION WITH CHECK AIRMAN ON BEST METHOD TO ENTER THIS INFO INTO FMC, I DECIDED TO START DOWN AND THEN WORK ON FMC IN DSCNT. I INADVERTENTLY SELECTED 10,000' INTO FLT GUIDANCE SYSTEM. AGAIN WE WENT HEADS DOWN TO CONCENTRATE PROGRAMMING FMC FOR DSCNT PATH. MOMENTS LATER CLE CENTER REQUESTED OUR ALT. WE LOOKED UP AS WE WERE THROUGH 22,000', LEVELED OUT AT 21,000'. WE INFORMED CENTER. WX WAS CLEAR AND CTLR JUST SAID TO MAINTAIN 21,000', APPARENTLY THERE WAS NO CONFLICTING TFC. THIS IS NOT A NEW PROBLEM. AUTOMATION HAS TAKEN OVER IN THE COCKPIT. COMPUTERS ARE NOT LEARNED OVERNIGHT AND NEED HANDS ON OPERATING EXPERIENCE. IT ALL COMES BACK TO 'FLY THE AIRPLANE FIRST!'

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.