Commuter flight crew descends 1500' below assigned altitude.

Attributes
ACN	146132
Time
Date	199005
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : syr
State Reference	NY
Altitude	msl bound lower : 9500 msl bound upper : 11000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zbw
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Light Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turboprop Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other descent other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : commercial pilot : atp pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 5000 flight time type : 1500
ASRS Report	146132
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course other
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Bos center cleared my flight from 15000' to 11000'. At the time my first officer was at the controls she is a very low time pilot. I the captain was the PNF. As I was preparing the navaids and reviewing the approach plate into syr, my first officer had descended to 9500'. I immediately established a climb and informed boston center. They said not to worry about it but to cover myself I will file this report. The problem is that I had my head down reviewing the approach and giving a descent briefing. My first officer with 1100 hours total time and inexperience was simply not paying attention and failed to question me about the altitude in question until it was too late. I informed her if she has any doubt what so ever always ask. In the commuter airline industry I am finding that the pilots hired for first officer's hourly experience range between 450 to 1000 hours and the experience level is very low. It makes my job as PIC very difficult when I have to monitor the first officer every second from engine start to engine shut down. If anything, I've learned to never take my eyes off the panel for more than a few seconds, and to keep in mind that all first officer's do not have that much experience.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: COMMUTER FLT CREW DESCENDS 1500' BELOW ASSIGNED ALT.

Narrative: BOS CTR CLRED MY FLT FROM 15000' TO 11000'. AT THE TIME MY F/O WAS AT THE CONTROLS SHE IS A VERY LOW TIME PLT. I THE CAPT WAS THE PNF. AS I WAS PREPARING THE NAVAIDS AND REVIEWING THE APCH PLATE INTO SYR, MY F/O HAD DSNDED TO 9500'. I IMMEDIATELY ESTABLISHED A CLB AND INFORMED BOSTON CTR. THEY SAID NOT TO WORRY ABOUT IT BUT TO COVER MYSELF I WILL FILE THIS RPT. THE PROB IS THAT I HAD MY HEAD DOWN REVIEWING THE APCH AND GIVING A DSNT BRIEFING. MY F/O WITH 1100 HRS TOTAL TIME AND INEXPERIENCE WAS SIMPLY NOT PAYING ATTN AND FAILED TO QUESTION ME ABOUT THE ALT IN QUESTION UNTIL IT WAS TOO LATE. I INFORMED HER IF SHE HAS ANY DOUBT WHAT SO EVER ALWAYS ASK. IN THE COMMUTER AIRLINE INDUSTRY I AM FINDING THAT THE PLTS HIRED FOR F/O'S HOURLY EXPERIENCE RANGE BTWN 450 TO 1000 HRS AND THE EXPERIENCE LEVEL IS VERY LOW. IT MAKES MY JOB AS PIC VERY DIFFICULT WHEN I HAVE TO MONITOR THE F/O EVERY SECOND FROM ENG START TO ENG SHUT DOWN. IF ANYTHING, I'VE LEARNED TO NEVER TAKE MY EYES OFF THE PANEL FOR MORE THAN A FEW SECONDS, AND TO KEEP IN MIND THAT ALL F/O'S DO NOT HAVE THAT MUCH EXPERIENCE.

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.