Large transport overshot assigned altitude while being vectored for an approach.

Attributes
ACN	155047
Time
Date	199008
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : iah
State Reference	TX
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2700 msl bound upper : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : iah
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other descent other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : atp pilot : flight engineer pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 50 flight time total : 8000 flight time type : 2000
ASRS Report	155047
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	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified 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 being vectored for a visual approach to runway 14L at iah. Clearance was for heading 240 degree (approximately) descend to 3000', report the airport in sight. I had briefed the approach as a visual, back it up with the ILS 14L, initial intercept altitude 2000'. Passing 2700' the altitude alerter went off. I applied power and immediately climbed to 3000'. Aircraft had descended to approximately 2650' at the lowest. There was no query from ATC. I believe this due to concentrating on the briefed intercept altitude of 2000'. Other factors include fatigue, 2 hours sleep in 20; having been roused from bed a little over 2 hours previous; being lulled into complacency by good WX. Callback conversation with reporter revealed following information. Reporter described his recent sleep patterns that caused fatigue to become a major factor in this incident. He also pointed out that he was a new captain with only about 25 hours at the time of the altitude deviation.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: LGT OVERSHOT ASSIGNED ALT WHILE BEING VECTORED FOR AN APCH.

Narrative: WE WERE BEING VECTORED FOR A VISUAL APCH TO RWY 14L AT IAH. CLRNC WAS FOR HEADING 240 DEG (APPROX) DSND TO 3000', RPT THE ARPT IN SIGHT. I HAD BRIEFED THE APCH AS A VISUAL, BACK IT UP WITH THE ILS 14L, INITIAL INTERCEPT ALT 2000'. PASSING 2700' THE ALT ALERTER WENT OFF. I APPLIED PWR AND IMMEDIATELY CLIMBED TO 3000'. ACFT HAD DSNDED TO APPROX 2650' AT THE LOWEST. THERE WAS NO QUERY FROM ATC. I BELIEVE THIS DUE TO CONCENTRATING ON THE BRIEFED INTERCEPT ALT OF 2000'. OTHER FACTORS INCLUDE FATIGUE, 2 HOURS SLEEP IN 20; HAVING BEEN ROUSED FROM BED A LITTLE OVER 2 HOURS PREVIOUS; BEING LULLED INTO COMPLACENCY BY GOOD WX. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED FOLLOWING INFO. RPTR DESCRIBED HIS RECENT SLEEP PATTERNS THAT CAUSED FATIGUE TO BECOME A MAJOR FACTOR IN THIS INCIDENT. HE ALSO POINTED OUT THAT HE WAS A NEW CAPT WITH ONLY ABOUT 25 HOURS AT THE TIME OF THE ALT DEVIATION.

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.