Altitude deviation altitude overshot in descent procedure.

Attributes
ACN	244716
Time
Date	199306
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : dca
State Reference	DC
Altitude	msl bound lower : 14200 msl bound upper : 15000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc artcc : zmp
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	enroute airway : zdc
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : flight engineer pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 250 flight time total : 11000
ASRS Report	244716
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance non adherence other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : became reoriented flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

We were en route from cleveland to dca at FL190 and we were given clearance to descend and maintain 15000 ft. I was working the radios and the captain was flying. As we were descending through approximately 16500 to 16000 ft. I looked down to get my approach plates for dca. As I looked back up we were at approximately 14200 ft and still descending at 2000 FPM. I immediately brought this to the captain's attention and he promptly returned and leveled at 15000 ft. The controller never once questioned our altitude or anything of the sort. We both noticed that the altitude alert horn or chime was almost totally inaudible.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ALTDEV ALT OVERSHOT IN DSCNT PROC.

Narrative: WE WERE ENRTE FROM CLEVELAND TO DCA AT FL190 AND WE WERE GIVEN CLRNC TO DSND AND MAINTAIN 15000 FT. I WAS WORKING THE RADIOS AND THE CAPT WAS FLYING. AS WE WERE DSNDING THROUGH APPROX 16500 TO 16000 FT. I LOOKED DOWN TO GET MY APCH PLATES FOR DCA. AS I LOOKED BACK UP WE WERE AT APPROX 14200 FT AND STILL DSNDING AT 2000 FPM. I IMMEDIATELY BROUGHT THIS TO THE CAPT'S ATTN AND HE PROMPTLY RETURNED AND LEVELED AT 15000 FT. THE CTLR NEVER ONCE QUESTIONED OUR ALT OR ANYTHING OF THE SORT. WE BOTH NOTICED THAT THE ALT ALERT HORN OR CHIME WAS ALMOST TOTALLY INAUDIBLE.

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.