Altitude deviation. Overshoot in descent.

Attributes
ACN	143446
Time
Date	199004
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : nqa
State Reference	TN
Altitude	msl bound lower : 16000 msl bound upper : 17000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zme
Operator	other
Make Model Name	Military Transport
Flight Phase	descent other
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : military
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : military
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 95 flight time total : 2300 flight time type : 500
ASRS Report	143446
Person 2
Affiliation	government : military
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : military
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 6000 flight time type : 150
ASRS Report	143444
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : clearance non adherence : required legal separation
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course other
Consequence	Other
Miss Distance	vertical : 1000
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

While captain was calling NAS mem operations on alternate VHF radio I monitored center. I was given a clearance to descend to 17000'. As is the case in our aircraft, VHF #1 and VHF #2 disrupt one another. I understood I was cleared to 16000' and dialed 16000' into our altitude alerter (apparently another aircraft was being cleared for 16000'). Somehow I misspoke and read back 17000'. There is no excuse for that error. In the future I will wear headsets (which are not interrupted by use of altitude radios) when other pilot utilizes same. Crossing approximately 16500' (descending) ZME called us to check our altitude. I checked our alerter (set at 16000') and responded that we were descending to 16000'. He told us to immediately climb to and maintain 17000', which we did. Leveling at 17000' we noted an air carrier airlines medium large transport pass under our aircraft.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ALT DEVIATION. OVERSHOOT IN DESCENT.

Narrative: WHILE CAPT WAS CALLING NAS MEM OPS ON ALTERNATE VHF RADIO I MONITORED CENTER. I WAS GIVEN A CLRNC TO DSND TO 17000'. AS IS THE CASE IN OUR ACFT, VHF #1 AND VHF #2 DISRUPT ONE ANOTHER. I UNDERSTOOD I WAS CLRED TO 16000' AND DIALED 16000' INTO OUR ALT ALERTER (APPARENTLY ANOTHER ACFT WAS BEING CLRED FOR 16000'). SOMEHOW I MISSPOKE AND READ BACK 17000'. THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR THAT ERROR. IN THE FUTURE I WILL WEAR HEADSETS (WHICH ARE NOT INTERRUPTED BY USE OF ALT RADIOS) WHEN OTHER PLT UTILIZES SAME. XING APPROX 16500' (DSNDING) ZME CALLED US TO CHK OUR ALT. I CHKED OUR ALERTER (SET AT 16000') AND RESPONDED THAT WE WERE DSNDING TO 16000'. HE TOLD US TO IMMEDIATELY CLB TO AND MAINTAIN 17000', WHICH WE DID. LEVELING AT 17000' WE NOTED AN ACR AIRLINES MLG PASS UNDER OUR ACFT.

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.