Altitude deviation altitude overshot in descent.

Attributes
ACN	203189
Time
Date	199202
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : nzj
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 8000 msl bound upper : 9000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : sna
Operator	other
Make Model Name	Fighter
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	descent other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : military
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : military
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 30 flight time total : 950 flight time type : 100
ASRS Report	203189
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : exited adverse environment other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

While flying on radar vectors to the W291 out of MCAS el toro for fuel adjustment, I was cleared from 12000 ft to 9000 ft. At the time I was having a fuel transfer problem and had acknowledged the clearance to 9000 ft. I was still working on the transfer problem when I inadvertently descended to 8000 ft. The confusion over my assigned altitude occurred because I heard another aircraft cleared to that altitude. I didn't realize there was a problem until the controller called for me to expedite descent to 7000 ft. I called on the radio 'roger, out of 8000 for 7000.' if the controller had been informed of the difficulties I was experiencing with the fuel transfer problem, the situation may have been avoided. In the future, if faced with similar events, I'll prioritize the tasks to be performed and comply with the clearance when dealing with non-threatening situations.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ALTDEV ALT OVERSHOT IN DSCNT.

Narrative: WHILE FLYING ON RADAR VECTORS TO THE W291 OUT OF MCAS EL TORO FOR FUEL ADJUSTMENT, I WAS CLRED FROM 12000 FT TO 9000 FT. AT THE TIME I WAS HAVING A FUEL TRANSFER PROBLEM AND HAD ACKNOWLEDGED THE CLRNC TO 9000 FT. I WAS STILL WORKING ON THE TRANSFER PROBLEM WHEN I INADVERTENTLY DSNDED TO 8000 FT. THE CONFUSION OVER MY ASSIGNED ALT OCCURRED BECAUSE I HEARD ANOTHER ACFT CLRED TO THAT ALT. I DIDN'T REALIZE THERE WAS A PROBLEM UNTIL THE CTLR CALLED FOR ME TO EXPEDITE DSCNT TO 7000 FT. I CALLED ON THE RADIO 'ROGER, OUT OF 8000 FOR 7000.' IF THE CTLR HAD BEEN INFORMED OF THE DIFFICULTIES I WAS EXPERIENCING WITH THE FUEL TRANSFER PROBLEM, THE SITUATION MAY HAVE BEEN AVOIDED. IN THE FUTURE, IF FACED WITH SIMILAR EVENTS, I'LL PRIORITIZE THE TASKS TO BE PERFORMED AND COMPLY WITH THE CLRNC WHEN DEALING WITH NON-THREATENING SITUATIONS.

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.