Commuter flight crew with new aircraft equipment for altitude confused by use of old equipment. Descends below assigned.

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Attributes
ACN	134500
Time
Date	199001
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : clt
State Reference	NC
Altitude	msl bound lower : 5000 msl bound upper : 6000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : clt
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Light Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turboprop Eng
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	arrival other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : cfi pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 2400 flight time type : 800
ASRS Report	134500
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 175 flight time total : 4200 flight time type : 2200
ASRS Report	134497
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Just 10 NM from the airport, we were cleared from 9000 to 6000'. As I started my descent, the captain dialed in the altitude into the altitude indicator. This was the first aircraft to have this type of reminder. Before this, we would use the standby frequency on the ADF. Coming up on altitude, I looked at the ADF standby, which had 5000' dialed in. I continued to 5000'. I didn't know whether the captain received the new altitude and I missed the call, or if it had been 5000' initially. At the time of reaching 5000', I realized that I should have been looking at the new altitude indicator. A moment later clt ATC told us to maintain 6000'. I started my climb immediately. ATC came back with a 'maintain 5000' command. A few seconds later ATC pointed out traffic at 10 O'clock, 3-4 mi, 4500'. We spotted the traffic, called it and were handed off to final approach ATC. The altitude bust was due to the misuse of the altitude indicator. Also as the PF, I should have confirmed the altitude with the captain and if needed thereafter, with ATC.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: COMMUTER FLT CREW WITH NEW ACFT EQUIPMENT FOR ALT CONFUSED BY USE OF OLD EQUIPMENT. DESCENDS BELOW ASSIGNED.

Narrative: JUST 10 NM FROM THE ARPT, WE WERE CLRED FROM 9000 TO 6000'. AS I STARTED MY DSCNT, THE CAPT DIALED IN THE ALT INTO THE ALT INDICATOR. THIS WAS THE FIRST ACFT TO HAVE THIS TYPE OF REMINDER. BEFORE THIS, WE WOULD USE THE STANDBY FREQ ON THE ADF. COMING UP ON ALT, I LOOKED AT THE ADF STANDBY, WHICH HAD 5000' DIALED IN. I CONTINUED TO 5000'. I DIDN'T KNOW WHETHER THE CAPT RECEIVED THE NEW ALT AND I MISSED THE CALL, OR IF IT HAD BEEN 5000' INITIALLY. AT THE TIME OF REACHING 5000', I REALIZED THAT I SHOULD HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT THE NEW ALT INDICATOR. A MOMENT LATER CLT ATC TOLD US TO MAINTAIN 6000'. I STARTED MY CLB IMMEDIATELY. ATC CAME BACK WITH A 'MAINTAIN 5000' COMMAND. A FEW SECS LATER ATC POINTED OUT TFC AT 10 O'CLOCK, 3-4 MI, 4500'. WE SPOTTED THE TFC, CALLED IT AND WERE HANDED OFF TO FINAL APCH ATC. THE ALT BUST WAS DUE TO THE MISUSE OF THE ALT INDICATOR. ALSO AS THE PF, I SHOULD HAVE CONFIRMED THE ALT WITH THE CAPT AND IF NEEDED THEREAFTER, WITH ATC.

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.