VMC descent through altitude.

Attributes
ACN	291470
Time
Date	199412
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : sbp
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3500 msl bound upper : 3500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : jfk
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors enroute airway : zla
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 210 flight time total : 3100 flight time type : 350
ASRS Report	291470
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 120 flight time total : 4900 flight time type : 1800
ASRS Report	291469
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance other other
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Flight was IFR from lax to sbp. While descending out of 12000 ft into a hazy dusk environment, crew effort was primarily on visually calling the airport in addition to slower leading traffic. Due to the prior concerns, flight unintentionally descended through its hard altitude of 5000 ft to 3500 ft. Center brought the deviation to our attention. We canceled IFR, and were cleared for the uneventful visual.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: VMC DSCNT THROUGH ALT.

Narrative: FLT WAS IFR FROM LAX TO SBP. WHILE DSNDING OUT OF 12000 FT INTO A HAZY DUSK ENVIRONMENT, CREW EFFORT WAS PRIMARILY ON VISUALLY CALLING THE ARPT IN ADDITION TO SLOWER LEADING TFC. DUE TO THE PRIOR CONCERNS, FLT UNINTENTIONALLY DSNDED THROUGH ITS HARD ALT OF 5000 FT TO 3500 FT. CTR BROUGHT THE DEV TO OUR ATTN. WE CANCELED IFR, AND WERE CLRED FOR THE UNEVENTFUL VISUAL.

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.