Air carrier medium large transport descends through assigned altitude.

Attributes
ACN	179532
Time
Date	199105
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : lga
State Reference	NY
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1800 msl bound upper : 2000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : n90 tower : lga
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	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 120 flight time total : 4500 flight time type : 4000
ASRS Report	179532
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 250 flight time total : 10300 flight time type : 1050
ASRS Report	179533
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot conflict : nmac non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course flight crew : took evasive action
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Lga approach cleared us for a visibility approach to runway 04. While they were issuing this clearance, we got a TCAS TA. I immediately looked outside to try to find the traffic. All I heard from approach was, 'cleared for visibility approach, runway 04.' as I descended through 2000' on dog leg to final, the captain told me that approach had told us to stay at 2000' until on final. At the same time, tower called us and told us to check our altitude. We got as low as about 1800' and I corrected immediately when the captain told me the restriction. As far as I know, no conflicts occurred. TCAS TA was definitely a factor.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR MLG DESCENDS THROUGH ASSIGNED ALT.

Narrative: LGA APCH CLRED US FOR A VIS APCH TO RWY 04. WHILE THEY WERE ISSUING THIS CLRNC, WE GOT A TCAS TA. I IMMEDIATELY LOOKED OUTSIDE TO TRY TO FIND THE TFC. ALL I HEARD FROM APCH WAS, 'CLRED FOR VIS APCH, RWY 04.' AS I DSNDED THROUGH 2000' ON DOG LEG TO FINAL, THE CAPT TOLD ME THAT APCH HAD TOLD US TO STAY AT 2000' UNTIL ON FINAL. AT THE SAME TIME, TWR CALLED US AND TOLD US TO CHK OUR ALT. WE GOT AS LOW AS ABOUT 1800' AND I CORRECTED IMMEDIATELY WHEN THE CAPT TOLD ME THE RESTRICTION. AS FAR AS I KNOW, NO CONFLICTS OCCURRED. TCAS TA WAS DEFINITELY A FACTOR.

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.