Altitude deviation. Overshoot in descent.

Attributes
ACN	133133
Time
Date	199001
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : mod
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 10100 msl bound upper : 11000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : oak
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Widebody, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	arrival other arrival star : star
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 190 flight time total : 16000 flight time type : 6000
ASRS Report	133133
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Oak approach cleared us to 'cross cedes intersection at 11000' MSL, then descend to 7000'. After cedes, turn to heading of 260 degrees to intercept the 095 degree right of sfo VOR. Speed your discretion.' we were descending to 11000' so that was set in the altitude window. The captain pointed to the altitude window and said 'we are cleared to 7000.' I said 'yes, but we are to cross cedes at 11000.' he pointed to the altitude again and said 'we are cleared to 7000 and tune in 116.0 (manteca VOR) on your VOR.' I said 'why?' he replied 'so I can tell when we are at cedes.' I didn't understand why he wanted the manteca 215 degree right for crossing, but I set 7000' on the altimeter 'cause that is what I understood he wanted, tuned in manteca VOR and 215 degree right. About that time and just a few mi before cedes he descended through 11000' and I said, 'we are supposed to be at 11000 till cedes.' he leveled at 10100' and oak approach called and said we were supposed to be at 11000'. By then we were past cedes and we descended to 7000'. Communication problems, you bet.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ALT DEVIATION. OVERSHOOT IN DESCENT.

Narrative: OAK APCH CLRED US TO 'CROSS CEDES INTXN AT 11000' MSL, THEN DSND TO 7000'. AFTER CEDES, TURN TO HDG OF 260 DEGS TO INTERCEPT THE 095 DEG R OF SFO VOR. SPD YOUR DISCRETION.' WE WERE DSNDING TO 11000' SO THAT WAS SET IN THE ALT WINDOW. THE CAPT POINTED TO THE ALT WINDOW AND SAID 'WE ARE CLRED TO 7000.' I SAID 'YES, BUT WE ARE TO CROSS CEDES AT 11000.' HE POINTED TO THE ALT AGAIN AND SAID 'WE ARE CLRED TO 7000 AND TUNE IN 116.0 (MANTECA VOR) ON YOUR VOR.' I SAID 'WHY?' HE REPLIED 'SO I CAN TELL WHEN WE ARE AT CEDES.' I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND WHY HE WANTED THE MANTECA 215 DEG R FOR XING, BUT I SET 7000' ON THE ALTIMETER 'CAUSE THAT IS WHAT I UNDERSTOOD HE WANTED, TUNED IN MANTECA VOR AND 215 DEG R. ABOUT THAT TIME AND JUST A FEW MI BEFORE CEDES HE DSNDED THROUGH 11000' AND I SAID, 'WE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE AT 11000 TILL CEDES.' HE LEVELED AT 10100' AND OAK APCH CALLED AND SAID WE WERE SUPPOSED TO BE AT 11000'. BY THEN WE WERE PAST CEDES AND WE DSNDED TO 7000'. COM PROBS, YOU BET.

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.