Altitude deviation on descent.

Attributes
ACN	294745
Time
Date	199501
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : ric
State Reference	VA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 16400 msl bound upper : 17000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	enroute airway : zdc
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 6000 flight time type : 200
ASRS Report	294745
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 8080 flight time type : 1600
ASRS Report	294510
Events
Anomaly	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 flight crew : became reoriented other
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

We were given descent clearance to 17000 ft MSL. Local altimeter was 29.49. We were distracted going through FL180, and did not initiate the descent check, we leveled at 17000 ft with 29.92 still set. We recognized the incorrect altitude setting and had started a climb to 17000 ft when approach control asked us our altitude. We responded '17000 ft' and he said he had us at 400 ft low. He immediately cleared us to a lower altitude, before we could complete the level off at 17000 ft. The rest of approach and landing was uneventful.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ALTDEV ON DSCNT.

Narrative: WE WERE GIVEN DSCNT CLRNC TO 17000 FT MSL. LCL ALTIMETER WAS 29.49. WE WERE DISTRACTED GOING THROUGH FL180, AND DID NOT INITIATE THE DSCNT CHK, WE LEVELED AT 17000 FT WITH 29.92 STILL SET. WE RECOGNIZED THE INCORRECT ALT SETTING AND HAD STARTED A CLB TO 17000 FT WHEN APCH CTL ASKED US OUR ALT. WE RESPONDED '17000 FT' AND HE SAID HE HAD US AT 400 FT LOW. HE IMMEDIATELY CLRED US TO A LOWER ALT, BEFORE WE COULD COMPLETE THE LEVEL OFF AT 17000 FT. THE REST OF APCH AND LNDG WAS UNEVENTFUL.

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.