An air carrier light transport crew deviated from its assigned altitude.

Attributes
ACN	236086
Time
Date	199303
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : mem
State Reference	TN
Altitude	agl bound lower : 12500 agl bound upper : 13000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : mem
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Light Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turboprop Eng
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude cruise other descent other
Route In Use	departure other enroute : on vectors enroute airway : zme
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : instrument pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 4250 flight time type : 2600
ASRS Report	236086
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

In sum: an air carrier light transport asked for a lower altitude because of turbulence and was told to stop at its present altitude, 13000 ft. The captain (PNF) went to the #2 radio to converse with the company. When he came back, the flying first officer had descended to 12500 ft. The captain and the controller noticed this about the same time, as the first officer was climbing back to 13000 ft. The controller then gave 8000 ft. The reporting captain then complains about a malfunctioning autoplt and many company personnel practices that he feels are unsafe.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN ACR LTT CREW DEVIATED FROM ITS ASSIGNED ALT.

Narrative: IN SUM: AN ACR LTT ASKED FOR A LOWER ALT BECAUSE OF TURB AND WAS TOLD TO STOP AT ITS PRESENT ALT, 13000 FT. THE CAPT (PNF) WENT TO THE #2 RADIO TO CONVERSE WITH THE COMPANY. WHEN HE CAME BACK, THE FLYING FO HAD DSNDED TO 12500 FT. THE CAPT AND THE CTLR NOTICED THIS ABOUT THE SAME TIME, AS THE FO WAS CLBING BACK TO 13000 FT. THE CTLR THEN GAVE 8000 FT. THE RPTING CAPT THEN COMPLAINS ABOUT A MALFUNCTIONING AUTOPLT AND MANY COMPANY PERSONNEL PRACTICES THAT HE FEELS ARE UNSAFE.

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.