Narrative:

During normal cruise flight at 8000 ft, new york approach instructed us to descend and maintain 6000 ft. As the PNF, I selected 6000 ft in the altitude alerter. Called and pointed for 6000 ft. The first officer agreed and called for a descent check and the in range checklist. As per my duty as the PNF, I immediately began both. Within 2 min I had completed both checklists and was just beginning to rechk our current status when ny approach called us for a radio check. I responded with a 5 by 5. He then requested our altitude and I responded 8000 ft. His response was 'I show you at 8000 ft as well. You were instructed to maintain 6000 ft. Descend now to 6000 ft and expedite your descent.' we did as instructed and reported level at 6000 ft in a very short period of time. As far as I am aware, no traffic was moved as a result of our maintaining 8000 ft. This was the first time that I had flown with this particular first officer who is in his second week on line. As a result I have now began confirming that one action is at least in progress before beginning another. I will also not begin another action unless I can continually monitor the progress of the initial action until its successful completion. No other mention of this was made by ATC. Our flight was completed successfully with no further incidents. I feel as though this will not occur again but my awareness in the cockpit has certainly increased.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: COMMUTER ACFT FAILS TO DSND AS ASSIGNED.

Narrative: DURING NORMAL CRUISE FLT AT 8000 FT, NEW YORK APCH INSTRUCTED US TO DSND AND MAINTAIN 6000 FT. AS THE PNF, I SELECTED 6000 FT IN THE ALT ALERTER. CALLED AND POINTED FOR 6000 FT. THE FO AGREED AND CALLED FOR A DSCNT CHK AND THE IN RANGE CHKLIST. AS PER MY DUTY AS THE PNF, I IMMEDIATELY BEGAN BOTH. WITHIN 2 MIN I HAD COMPLETED BOTH CHKLISTS AND WAS JUST BEGINNING TO RECHK OUR CURRENT STATUS WHEN NY APCH CALLED US FOR A RADIO CHK. I RESPONDED WITH A 5 BY 5. HE THEN REQUESTED OUR ALT AND I RESPONDED 8000 FT. HIS RESPONSE WAS 'I SHOW YOU AT 8000 FT AS WELL. YOU WERE INSTRUCTED TO MAINTAIN 6000 FT. DSND NOW TO 6000 FT AND EXPEDITE YOUR DSCNT.' WE DID AS INSTRUCTED AND RPTED LEVEL AT 6000 FT IN A VERY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. AS FAR AS I AM AWARE, NO TFC WAS MOVED AS A RESULT OF OUR MAINTAINING 8000 FT. THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT I HAD FLOWN WITH THIS PARTICULAR FO WHO IS IN HIS SECOND WK ON LINE. AS A RESULT I HAVE NOW BEGAN CONFIRMING THAT ONE ACTION IS AT LEAST IN PROGRESS BEFORE BEGINNING ANOTHER. I WILL ALSO NOT BEGIN ANOTHER ACTION UNLESS I CAN CONTINUALLY MONITOR THE PROGRESS OF THE INITIAL ACTION UNTIL ITS SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION. NO OTHER MENTION OF THIS WAS MADE BY ATC. OUR FLT WAS COMPLETED SUCCESSFULLY WITH NO FURTHER INCIDENTS. I FEEL AS THOUGH THIS WILL NOT OCCUR AGAIN BUT MY AWARENESS IN THE COCKPIT HAS CERTAINLY INCREASED.

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.