An air carrier A320 overshot its assigned altitude on descent.

Attributes
ACN	260449
Time
Date	199401
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : atl
State Reference	GA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 13720 msl bound upper : 14000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : atl
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	A320
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	cruise other descent 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 : 250 flight time total : 14000 flight time type : 750
ASRS Report	260449
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 : overshoot non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course other
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

During descent into atl, a clearance to 14000 ft MSL was given. An autoplt descent and subsequent heading change resulted in the autoplt leveling off at 13720 ft MSL and then back up to 14000 ft MSL. The A320 1G maneuvering criteria is often times too smooth and can result in airspeed/altitude incursions. I directed the first officer (PF) to disconnect the autoplt and level at 14000 ft. The air traffic controller asked us to 'verify assigned altitude 14000 ft.' no other comment was made by ATC. In the future, I will monitor autoplt level offs more closely, especially when programming it to perform several functions at once.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN ACR A320 OVERSHOT ITS ASSIGNED ALT ON DSCNT.

Narrative: DURING DSCNT INTO ATL, A CLRNC TO 14000 FT MSL WAS GIVEN. AN AUTOPLT DSCNT AND SUBSEQUENT HDG CHANGE RESULTED IN THE AUTOPLT LEVELING OFF AT 13720 FT MSL AND THEN BACK UP TO 14000 FT MSL. THE A320 1G MANEUVERING CRITERIA IS OFTEN TIMES TOO SMOOTH AND CAN RESULT IN AIRSPD/ALT INCURSIONS. I DIRECTED THE FO (PF) TO DISCONNECT THE AUTOPLT AND LEVEL AT 14000 FT. THE AIR TFC CTLR ASKED US TO 'VERIFY ASSIGNED ALT 14000 FT.' NO OTHER COMMENT WAS MADE BY ATC. IN THE FUTURE, I WILL MONITOR AUTOPLT LEVEL OFFS MORE CLOSELY, ESPECIALLY WHEN PROGRAMMING IT TO PERFORM SEVERAL FUNCTIONS AT ONCE.

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.