Commuter overshoots assigned altitude in descent in hi.

Attributes
ACN	146005
Time
Date	199005
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : mkk
State Reference	HI
Altitude	msl bound lower : 5300 msl bound upper : 6000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Small Transport
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	enroute airway : zhn
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 270 flight time total : 1250 flight time type : 950
ASRS Report	146005
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : far non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera 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:

We were flying from kahului to hnl. Mkk VORTAC was just coming back on live after being OTS, so we were receiving radar vectors from center. We were in cruise at 8000' westbound, 20 mi northeast of mkk VORTAC. We received a descent at pilot's discretion to 6000'. I suggested to the captain that we began our descent, because it's common to receive a crossing restriction at lokie intersection (10 mi west of mkk) of 4000'. We started down, then received a clearance for a heading of 220 degrees to intercept the mkk 254 degree right (mkk was now operating) and descent to 6000'. I had my head down, tuning and identing mkk and writing down the hnl ATIS in anticipation of a handoff to hnl approach to enter the TCA. Center called and asked to verify we were level at 6000'. I confirmed and then looked at the altimeter and realized the captain had descended to 5300'. At this point the captain switched off the mode C. We then climbed back to 6000'. There were no traffic conflicts. The closest aircraft was 10 mi away. The captain had in his mind 4000' because we had discussed the normal crossing restriction. I was being complacent and not checking up on the captain. Proper action would be to always repeat clrncs to the PF and each crew member monitor the other to same extent.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: COMMUTER OVERSHOOTS ASSIGNED ALT IN DESCENT IN HI.

Narrative: WE WERE FLYING FROM KAHULUI TO HNL. MKK VORTAC WAS JUST COMING BACK ON LIVE AFTER BEING OTS, SO WE WERE RECEIVING RADAR VECTORS FROM CENTER. WE WERE IN CRUISE AT 8000' WBND, 20 MI NE OF MKK VORTAC. WE RECEIVED A DSNT AT PLT'S DISCRETION TO 6000'. I SUGGESTED TO THE CAPT THAT WE BEGAN OUR DSNT, BECAUSE IT'S COMMON TO RECEIVE A XING RESTRICTION AT LOKIE INTXN (10 MI W OF MKK) OF 4000'. WE STARTED DOWN, THEN RECEIVED A CLRNC FOR A HDG OF 220 DEGS TO INTERCEPT THE MKK 254 DEG R (MKK WAS NOW OPERATING) AND DSNT TO 6000'. I HAD MY HEAD DOWN, TUNING AND IDENTING MKK AND WRITING DOWN THE HNL ATIS IN ANTICIPATION OF A HDOF TO HNL APCH TO ENTER THE TCA. CENTER CALLED AND ASKED TO VERIFY WE WERE LEVEL AT 6000'. I CONFIRMED AND THEN LOOKED AT THE ALTIMETER AND REALIZED THE CAPT HAD DSNDED TO 5300'. AT THIS POINT THE CAPT SWITCHED OFF THE MODE C. WE THEN CLBED BACK TO 6000'. THERE WERE NO TFC CONFLICTS. THE CLOSEST ACFT WAS 10 MI AWAY. THE CAPT HAD IN HIS MIND 4000' BECAUSE WE HAD DISCUSSED THE NORMAL XING RESTRICTION. I WAS BEING COMPLACENT AND NOT CHKING UP ON THE CAPT. PROPER ACTION WOULD BE TO ALWAYS REPEAT CLRNCS TO THE PF AND EACH CREW MEMBER MONITOR THE OTHER TO SAME EXTENT.

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.