Altitude deviation due to programming FMS and not monitoring altitude.

Attributes
ACN	236228
Time
Date	199303
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : day
State Reference	OH
Altitude	msl bound lower : 7700 msl bound upper : 11000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	enroute : direct enroute airway : day
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 60 flight time total : 9600 flight time type : 20
ASRS Report	236228
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course flight crew : became reoriented
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

We were descending into day out of FL180 to 11000 ft. We were given a clearance to go direct to day VOR. We were attempting to put direct to day VOR in the FMC when I noticed our altitude at 7700 ft descending, airspeed at 280 KTS. I kicked off the autoplt and began a climb, asking the first officer to check with ATC on our cleared altitude. I checked the altitude window on the flight mode panel and instead of 11000 ft I saw 7700 ft. When we were cleared to 11000 ft, I set that in the altitude window, said '11000 ft,' and pointed to it. The first officer pointed and responded. '11000 ft.' somehow the altitude got changed (or changed itself) and we did not notice it until passing below 8000 ft, due to being distracted by programming the FMC.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ALTDEV DUE TO PROGRAMMING FMS AND NOT MONITORING ALT.

Narrative: WE WERE DSNDING INTO DAY OUT OF FL180 TO 11000 FT. WE WERE GIVEN A CLRNC TO GO DIRECT TO DAY VOR. WE WERE ATTEMPTING TO PUT DIRECT TO DAY VOR IN THE FMC WHEN I NOTICED OUR ALT AT 7700 FT DSNDING, AIRSPD AT 280 KTS. I KICKED OFF THE AUTOPLT AND BEGAN A CLB, ASKING THE FO TO CHK WITH ATC ON OUR CLRED ALT. I CHKED THE ALT WINDOW ON THE FLT MODE PANEL AND INSTEAD OF 11000 FT I SAW 7700 FT. WHEN WE WERE CLRED TO 11000 FT, I SET THAT IN THE ALT WINDOW, SAID '11000 FT,' AND POINTED TO IT. THE FO POINTED AND RESPONDED. '11000 FT.' SOMEHOW THE ALT GOT CHANGED (OR CHANGED ITSELF) AND WE DID NOT NOTICE IT UNTIL PASSING BELOW 8000 FT, DUE TO BEING DISTRACTED BY PROGRAMMING THE FMC.

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.