Large transport on descent and approaching minimum fuel flies through assigned altitude.

Attributes
ACN	245116
Time
Date	199306
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : bpr
State Reference	TX
Altitude	msl bound lower : 28300 msl bound upper : 29000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zfw tracon : n90
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	descent other other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 130 flight time total : 7500 flight time type : 1500
ASRS Report	245116
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 5000
ASRS Report	245227
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
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Copilot leg. During descent from FL370 to FL290 we were given published hold at ryann intersection. I began to calculate fuel requirements because we were approaching minimum fuel. Copilot became involved in discussion and flew through FL290. Stopped descent at FL283. No call from ZFW, no conflict involved. Classic case of no one flying the airplane. Human factors: I feel a contributing factor was that the first officer was resentful of me because I am younger, civilian trained pilot. First officer was air force academy graduate, bmb commander and approximately 3 yrs older. During the trip, he would exhibit desires to control the crew (he was more qualified), so when we were approaching a possible fuel quantity problem, he tried to take over the situation, and forgot to fly the airplane. After the altitude bust, I told him' you fly the airplane, I'll take care of the fuel.' from now on, I am going to brief, whoever is flying the airplane - - flies the airplane! Supplemental information from acn 245227: a contributing factor to the deviation is the excessive importance put on flying the altitude on the captain's altimeter. Often captain's and first officer's altimeters may differ by 250 ft. The altitude reported by the transponder more closely corresponds to the captain's altimeter. Flying captain's altimeter from the right seat makes for a scattered xchk.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: LGT ON DSCNT AND APCHING MINIMUM FUEL FLIES THROUGH ASSIGNED ALT.

Narrative: COPLT LEG. DURING DSCNT FROM FL370 TO FL290 WE WERE GIVEN PUBLISHED HOLD AT RYANN INTXN. I BEGAN TO CALCULATE FUEL REQUIREMENTS BECAUSE WE WERE APCHING MINIMUM FUEL. COPLT BECAME INVOLVED IN DISCUSSION AND FLEW THROUGH FL290. STOPPED DSCNT AT FL283. NO CALL FROM ZFW, NO CONFLICT INVOLVED. CLASSIC CASE OF NO ONE FLYING THE AIRPLANE. HUMAN FACTORS: I FEEL A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR WAS THAT THE FO WAS RESENTFUL OF ME BECAUSE I AM YOUNGER, CIVILIAN TRAINED PLT. FO WAS AIR FORCE ACADEMY GRADUATE, BMB COMMANDER AND APPROX 3 YRS OLDER. DURING THE TRIP, HE WOULD EXHIBIT DESIRES TO CTL THE CREW (HE WAS MORE QUALIFIED), SO WHEN WE WERE APCHING A POSSIBLE FUEL QUANTITY PROB, HE TRIED TO TAKE OVER THE SIT, AND FORGOT TO FLY THE AIRPLANE. AFTER THE ALT BUST, I TOLD HIM' YOU FLY THE AIRPLANE, I'LL TAKE CARE OF THE FUEL.' FROM NOW ON, I AM GOING TO BRIEF, WHOEVER IS FLYING THE AIRPLANE - - FLIES THE AIRPLANE! SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION FROM ACN 245227: A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR TO THE DEV IS THE EXCESSIVE IMPORTANCE PUT ON FLYING THE ALT ON THE CAPT'S ALTIMETER. OFTEN CAPT'S AND FO'S ALTIMETERS MAY DIFFER BY 250 FT. THE ALT RPTED BY THE XPONDER MORE CLOSELY CORRESPONDS TO THE CAPT'S ALTIMETER. FLYING CAPT'S ALTIMETER FROM THE R SEAT MAKES FOR A SCATTERED XCHK.

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.