Narrative:

After receiving the ATIS information (which reported about a 1000' ceiling, visibility 5 mi and the VOR approach to runway 15 in use), I called the approach up on the FMS and realized that the approach in the FMS data base did not give any precise guidance to the approach end of the runway. I started to build the approach while descending through 26000'. After discussion with the captain, we decided we wanted the most precise course guidance available because we were going to have to shoot a VOR approach at night in the WX and land on a wet, 6800' runway. The preoccupation of both crew members caused a delay in completion of the descent checklist (usually done passing through 18000') until just after level off at 11000'. We reset the altimeters to 30.22 and realized we had leveled off at 11300'. As we stared to descend to 11000', another aircraft passed overhead heading ese. Our ATC controller never said anything about an altitude deviation or a near miss, but if the passing aircraft was at 12000', we may have missed him by only 700'. Note: although we were going to execute a VOR approach, we wanted the FMS programmed to give us descent guidance from the final approach fix altitude to a point over the approach end of the runway direct a mock ILS type of approach using VOR course guidance and FMS-generated G/south information.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR FLT CREW LEVELS OFF EARLY. LESS THAN STANDARD SEPARATION.

Narrative: AFTER RECEIVING THE ATIS INFO (WHICH RPTED ABOUT A 1000' CEILING, VISIBILITY 5 MI AND THE VOR APCH TO RWY 15 IN USE), I CALLED THE APCH UP ON THE FMS AND REALIZED THAT THE APCH IN THE FMS DATA BASE DID NOT GIVE ANY PRECISE GUIDANCE TO THE APCH END OF THE RWY. I STARTED TO BUILD THE APCH WHILE DSNDING THROUGH 26000'. AFTER DISCUSSION WITH THE CAPT, WE DECIDED WE WANTED THE MOST PRECISE COURSE GUIDANCE AVAILABLE BECAUSE WE WERE GOING TO HAVE TO SHOOT A VOR APCH AT NIGHT IN THE WX AND LAND ON A WET, 6800' RWY. THE PREOCCUPATION OF BOTH CREW MEMBERS CAUSED A DELAY IN COMPLETION OF THE DSNT CHKLIST (USUALLY DONE PASSING THROUGH 18000') UNTIL JUST AFTER LEVEL OFF AT 11000'. WE RESET THE ALTIMETERS TO 30.22 AND REALIZED WE HAD LEVELED OFF AT 11300'. AS WE STARED TO DSND TO 11000', ANOTHER ACFT PASSED OVERHEAD HDG ESE. OUR ATC CTLR NEVER SAID ANYTHING ABOUT AN ALT DEVIATION OR A NEAR MISS, BUT IF THE PASSING ACFT WAS AT 12000', WE MAY HAVE MISSED HIM BY ONLY 700'. NOTE: ALTHOUGH WE WERE GOING TO EXECUTE A VOR APCH, WE WANTED THE FMS PROGRAMMED TO GIVE US DSNT GUIDANCE FROM THE FINAL APCH FIX ALT TO A POINT OVER THE APCH END OF THE RWY DIRECT A MOCK ILS TYPE OF APCH USING VOR COURSE GUIDANCE AND FMS-GENERATED G/S INFO.

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.