Altitude deviation.

Attributes
ACN	290123
Time
Date	199412
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : atl
State Reference	GA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 19000 msl bound upper : 23000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : ztl
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	arrival other arrival star : star
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 160 flight time total : 20000 flight time type : 7000
ASRS Report	290123
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

We were cleared to FL230 and advised to expect 14000 ft at dalas. I acknowledged, entered 230 in the altitude reminder and the first officer (PF) began descent. At or about FL250, I decided to turn on the seat belt sign and left the radios to the first officer to make the PA announcement. The first officer reset the altitude reminder to 14000 ft. I assumed we were reclred to 14000 ft. The first officer had always been very reliable. I completed my announcement, advised the first officer that 'I'm back' and was queried by controller about my assigned altitude (while passing FL190 in descent). I replied, '14000.' he advised me that FL230 was still assigned, but reclred me to cross dalas at 14000 ft MSL. We complied. This situation could possibly have been avoided had I instructed the so to back up the first officer with a listening watch and briefed the so about our altitude assignment.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ALTDEV.

Narrative: WE WERE CLRED TO FL230 AND ADVISED TO EXPECT 14000 FT AT DALAS. I ACKNOWLEDGED, ENTERED 230 IN THE ALT REMINDER AND THE FO (PF) BEGAN DSCNT. AT OR ABOUT FL250, I DECIDED TO TURN ON THE SEAT BELT SIGN AND LEFT THE RADIOS TO THE FO TO MAKE THE PA ANNOUNCEMENT. THE FO RESET THE ALT REMINDER TO 14000 FT. I ASSUMED WE WERE RECLRED TO 14000 FT. THE FO HAD ALWAYS BEEN VERY RELIABLE. I COMPLETED MY ANNOUNCEMENT, ADVISED THE FO THAT 'I'M BACK' AND WAS QUERIED BY CTLR ABOUT MY ASSIGNED ALT (WHILE PASSING FL190 IN DSCNT). I REPLIED, '14000.' HE ADVISED ME THAT FL230 WAS STILL ASSIGNED, BUT RECLRED ME TO CROSS DALAS AT 14000 FT MSL. WE COMPLIED. THIS SIT COULD POSSIBLY HAVE BEEN AVOIDED HAD I INSTRUCTED THE SO TO BACK UP THE FO WITH A LISTENING WATCH AND BRIEFED THE SO ABOUT OUR ALT ASSIGNMENT.

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.