Flight crew of medium large transport overshot altitude in descent.

Attributes
ACN	163372
Time
Date	199011
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : fmg airport : rno
State Reference	NV
Altitude	msl bound lower : 17000 msl bound upper : 18000
Environment
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zoa
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other descent other
Route In Use	arrival other enroute airway : zoa
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : atp pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 280 flight time total : 7000 flight time type : 1800
ASRS Report	163372
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	controller : issued new clearance
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

On descent into reno, ZOA issued a clearance to descend to 16000'. Captain was flying with new copilot (80 hours in last 4 months). After reaching FL225 center issued a clearance to make a 360 degree right turn and slow as much as practical. After approximately 90 degree of turn, center issued a clearance to level at FL180. Copilot acknowledged clearance but failed to select and arm FL180. A runway change at rno prompted both pilots to look for different approach plates. At this time, neither pilot noticed descent through FL180 until 17000'. Copilot then called to point out our deviation at which time center immediately cleared us to 16000' (previous clearance). Contributing factors were fatigue from tension generated by captain instructing and directing new pilot's performance on previous leg. Numerous mistakes had been corrected by captain up to this point.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLT CREW OF MLG OVERSHOT ALT IN DESCENT.

Narrative: ON DSNT INTO RENO, ZOA ISSUED A CLRNC TO DSND TO 16000'. CAPT WAS FLYING WITH NEW COPLT (80 HRS IN LAST 4 MONTHS). AFTER REACHING FL225 CTR ISSUED A CLRNC TO MAKE A 360 DEG R TURN AND SLOW AS MUCH AS PRACTICAL. AFTER APPROX 90 DEG OF TURN, CTR ISSUED A CLRNC TO LEVEL AT FL180. COPLT ACKNOWLEDGED CLRNC BUT FAILED TO SELECT AND ARM FL180. A RWY CHANGE AT RNO PROMPTED BOTH PLTS TO LOOK FOR DIFFERENT APCH PLATES. AT THIS TIME, NEITHER PLT NOTICED DSNT THROUGH FL180 UNTIL 17000'. COPLT THEN CALLED TO POINT OUT OUR DEV AT WHICH TIME CTR IMMEDIATELY CLRED US TO 16000' (PREVIOUS CLRNC). CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE FATIGUE FROM TENSION GENERATED BY CAPT INSTRUCTING AND DIRECTING NEW PLT'S PERFORMANCE ON PREVIOUS LEG. NUMEROUS MISTAKES HAD BEEN CORRECTED BY CAPT UP TO THIS POINT.

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.