Altitude deviation on descent by light transport flight crew.

Attributes
ACN	138075
Time
Date	199002
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : elm
State Reference	NY
Altitude	msl bound lower : 8000 msl bound upper : 9000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : elm
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Light Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turboprop Eng
Flight Phase	descent other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 225 flight time total : 4200 flight time type : 225
ASRS Report	138075
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Started descent from 12000' to 9000' approximately 35 NM southeast of elm airport as per center's instruction. Due to the close proximity of elm airport, I increased rate of descent to 3000 FPM. First officer switched to approach frequency. Controller acknowledged us. First officer did not give the usual verbal and visual sign for '1000' to go'. I noticed our altitude of 8000' and realized we descended below assigned altitude. I started to climb when approach gave us a further descent to 3500'. Several factors contributed to this altitude bust. 1) first officer, 1ST day on the line. 2) it was my leg and I was doing IOE with the first officer. So we were discussing something irrelevant to my descent to 9000'. 3) no altitude warning system. 4) fatigue, did not sleep well the night before incident. 5) did not follow sterile cockpit rule. 6) WX was cavu (above overcast).

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ALT DEVIATION ON DESCENT BY LTT FLT CREW.

Narrative: STARTED DSCNT FROM 12000' TO 9000' APPROX 35 NM SE OF ELM ARPT AS PER CENTER'S INSTRUCTION. DUE TO THE CLOSE PROX OF ELM ARPT, I INCREASED RATE OF DSCNT TO 3000 FPM. F/O SWITCHED TO APCH FREQ. CTLR ACKNOWLEDGED US. F/O DID NOT GIVE THE USUAL VERBAL AND VISUAL SIGN FOR '1000' TO GO'. I NOTICED OUR ALT OF 8000' AND REALIZED WE DESCENDED BELOW ASSIGNED ALT. I STARTED TO CLIMB WHEN APCH GAVE US A FURTHER DSCNT TO 3500'. SEVERAL FACTORS CONTRIBUTED TO THIS ALT BUST. 1) F/O, 1ST DAY ON THE LINE. 2) IT WAS MY LEG AND I WAS DOING IOE WITH THE F/O. SO WE WERE DISCUSSING SOMETHING IRRELEVANT TO MY DSCNT TO 9000'. 3) NO ALT WARNING SYSTEM. 4) FATIGUE, DID NOT SLEEP WELL THE NIGHT BEFORE INCIDENT. 5) DID NOT FOLLOW STERILE COCKPIT RULE. 6) WX WAS CAVU (ABOVE OVERCAST).

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.