Altitude deviation on descent.

Attributes
ACN	254849
Time
Date	199310
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : stp
State Reference	MN
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3650 msl bound upper : 4000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : osu
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Small Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turboprop Eng
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	enroute airway : msp
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : cfi pilot : atp pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 5000 flight time type : 700
ASRS Report	254849
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance
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:

I was flying as copilot in company small transport, company required, not FAA required. PF, left seat, descended below assigned altitude of 4000 ft to 3650 ft. I was looking out window and then looked back in and saw below and told him. He immediately returned to altitude assigned. Causes: lack of cockpit procedures, SOP's, PF lack of knowledge of system and autoplt (he set altitude preselect and failed to arm autoplt). PF is severe nonprofessional pilot, another one slipping through cracks of 'buddy system' in aviation. He is new hire buddy of department manager.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ALTDEV ON DSCNT.

Narrative: I WAS FLYING AS COPLT IN COMPANY SMT, COMPANY REQUIRED, NOT FAA REQUIRED. PF, L SEAT, DSNDED BELOW ASSIGNED ALT OF 4000 FT TO 3650 FT. I WAS LOOKING OUT WINDOW AND THEN LOOKED BACK IN AND SAW BELOW AND TOLD HIM. HE IMMEDIATELY RETURNED TO ALT ASSIGNED. CAUSES: LACK OF COCKPIT PROCS, SOP'S, PF LACK OF KNOWLEDGE OF SYS AND AUTOPLT (HE SET ALT PRESELECT AND FAILED TO ARM AUTOPLT). PF IS SEVERE NONPROFESSIONAL PLT, ANOTHER ONE SLIPPING THROUGH CRACKS OF 'BUDDY SYS' IN AVIATION. HE IS NEW HIRE BUDDY OF DEPT MGR.

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.