Flight crew of large transport overshot assigned altitude in descent.

Attributes
ACN	140595
Time
Date	199003
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : ard
State Reference	PA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 13700 msl bound upper : 15000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other descent other
Route In Use	arrival other arrival star : star enroute airway : zdc
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : atp pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 140 flight time total : 12000 flight time type : 7500
ASRS Report	140595
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : atp pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 160 flight time total : 6900 flight time type : 2400
ASRS Report	140838
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot
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:

We were on STAR nanci 2 arrival to lga just past dupont VOR descending to 22000', 300 KTS when ZDC cleared us to cross somto intersection at 13000', 250 KTS. As we descended through 18000' ZDC cleared us to hold at stefe intersection and to descend to 15000' standard turns. As we were descending we were looking at our STAR chart and high altitude chart and could not find stefe intersection. At that time I asked my first officer to ask ATC where stefe was which distracted him from correcting to put our new altitude of 15000' into our altitude alerter. ATC advised us of stefe intersection location and we continued. As we approached 13700' ATC came back and asked us what altitude we were at and advised us that we were supposed to have leveled off at 15000'. ATC also advised us to turn left to 250 degrees and climb back to 15000', which we complied with and no further action was taken.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLT CREW OF LGT OVERSHOT ASSIGNED ALT IN DESCENT.

Narrative: WE WERE ON STAR NANCI 2 ARR TO LGA JUST PAST DUPONT VOR DSNDING TO 22000', 300 KTS WHEN ZDC CLRED US TO CROSS SOMTO INTXN AT 13000', 250 KTS. AS WE DSNDED THROUGH 18000' ZDC CLRED US TO HOLD AT STEFE INTXN AND TO DSND TO 15000' STANDARD TURNS. AS WE WERE DSNDING WE WERE LOOKING AT OUR STAR CHART AND HIGH ALT CHART AND COULD NOT FIND STEFE INTXN. AT THAT TIME I ASKED MY F/O TO ASK ATC WHERE STEFE WAS WHICH DISTRACTED HIM FROM CORRECTING TO PUT OUR NEW ALT OF 15000' INTO OUR ALT ALERTER. ATC ADVISED US OF STEFE INTXN LOCATION AND WE CONTINUED. AS WE APCHED 13700' ATC CAME BACK AND ASKED US WHAT ALT WE WERE AT AND ADVISED US THAT WE WERE SUPPOSED TO HAVE LEVELED OFF AT 15000'. ATC ALSO ADVISED US TO TURN LEFT TO 250 DEGS AND CLB BACK TO 15000', WHICH WE COMPLIED WITH AND NO FURTHER ACTION WAS TAKEN.

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.