Narrative:

The flight was assigned a descent from 11000' to 6000' in preparation for a tower heading and visibility approach to 26R. During the descent approximately 15 mi from the airport, and at an altitude of approximately 8000', approach control changed runway assignment to 27L for reasons I'm not aware of. As I was switching ILS radio frequencys for 27L, my first officer continued the descent at 200 KTS and at a high sink rate. I failed to make the 1000' above assigned altitude call and we continued to descend through 6000'. At 5200' approach asked us to confirm our assigned altitude. I responded 6000'. He then told us to continue descent to 3500', cleared us for the visibility to 27L and to contact the tower at the OM. Contributing factors included the runway change outside the marker, and my distraction in switching radio frequencys close to our assigned altitude. The point where we descended below assigned altitude is normally where we are cleared for a visibility approach. This day we were held at 6000'. I think my first officer who was at the controls subconsciously felt we were so close to the airport that habit took over and it looked right for us to continue descending on the G/south. Fatigue was a factor. We were on duty 13 hours the day before and the WX had been bad all day. Although we had the legal rest prior to this flight (which was the first leg of a 7 leg day), we were tired.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: COMMUTER OVERSHOOTS ASSIGNED ALT IN DESCENT AT ATL.

Narrative: THE FLT WAS ASSIGNED A DSNT FROM 11000' TO 6000' IN PREPARATION FOR A TWR HDG AND VIS APCH TO 26R. DURING THE DSNT APPROX 15 MI FROM THE ARPT, AND AT AN ALT OF APPROX 8000', APCH CTL CHANGED RWY ASSIGNMENT TO 27L FOR REASONS I'M NOT AWARE OF. AS I WAS SWITCHING ILS RADIO FREQS FOR 27L, MY F/O CONTINUED THE DSNT AT 200 KTS AND AT A HIGH SINK RATE. I FAILED TO MAKE THE 1000' ABOVE ASSIGNED ALT CALL AND WE CONTINUED TO DSND THROUGH 6000'. AT 5200' APCH ASKED US TO CONFIRM OUR ASSIGNED ALT. I RESPONDED 6000'. HE THEN TOLD US TO CONTINUE DSNT TO 3500', CLRED US FOR THE VIS TO 27L AND TO CONTACT THE TWR AT THE OM. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS INCLUDED THE RWY CHANGE OUTSIDE THE MARKER, AND MY DISTR IN SWITCHING RADIO FREQS CLOSE TO OUR ASSIGNED ALT. THE POINT WHERE WE DSNDED BELOW ASSIGNED ALT IS NORMALLY WHERE WE ARE CLRED FOR A VIS APCH. THIS DAY WE WERE HELD AT 6000'. I THINK MY F/O WHO WAS AT THE CONTROLS SUBCONSCIOUSLY FELT WE WERE SO CLOSE TO THE ARPT THAT HABIT TOOK OVER AND IT LOOKED RIGHT FOR US TO CONTINUE DSNDING ON THE G/S. FATIGUE WAS A FACTOR. WE WERE ON DUTY 13 HRS THE DAY BEFORE AND THE WX HAD BEEN BAD ALL DAY. ALTHOUGH WE HAD THE LEGAL REST PRIOR TO THIS FLT (WHICH WAS THE FIRST LEG OF A 7 LEG DAY), WE WERE TIRED.

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.