Altitude deviation altitude overshot in descent and subsequent re-climb to the cleared to altitude.

Attributes
ACN	296370
Time
Date	199502
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : psp
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 9000 msl bound upper : 10800
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zla
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Flight Phase	descent other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 1630 flight time type : 130
ASRS Report	296370
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : became reoriented flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Cleared from 12000-10000 ft MSL, we were talking about an interesting subject unrelated to aviation. We were flying an aircraft which normally has an altitude alerter. Like pavlovian dogs, we tend to use it and respond to it -- we're conditioned to it. This item had been deferred more than once, and we knew we were especially susceptible with it inoperative. Still, we suddenly realized that we were at 9000 ft and immediately began a climb back to 10000 ft. Through 10800 ft ATC asked us to say altitude and we apologized and told him 9800 ft for 10000 ft. We decided after this incident that a good corrective action is to always make our standard '1000 ft to go' calls before the alerter goes off and to be even more alert when we fly an aircraft with an inoperative alerter. Another thing that might help is limiting the number of times items like this may be deferred.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ALTDEV ALT OVERSHOT IN DSCNT AND SUBSEQUENT RE-CLB TO THE CLRED TO ALT.

Narrative: CLRED FROM 12000-10000 FT MSL, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT AN INTERESTING SUBJECT UNRELATED TO AVIATION. WE WERE FLYING AN ACFT WHICH NORMALLY HAS AN ALT ALERTER. LIKE PAVLOVIAN DOGS, WE TEND TO USE IT AND RESPOND TO IT -- WE'RE CONDITIONED TO IT. THIS ITEM HAD BEEN DEFERRED MORE THAN ONCE, AND WE KNEW WE WERE ESPECIALLY SUSCEPTIBLE WITH IT INOP. STILL, WE SUDDENLY REALIZED THAT WE WERE AT 9000 FT AND IMMEDIATELY BEGAN A CLB BACK TO 10000 FT. THROUGH 10800 FT ATC ASKED US TO SAY ALT AND WE APOLOGIZED AND TOLD HIM 9800 FT FOR 10000 FT. WE DECIDED AFTER THIS INCIDENT THAT A GOOD CORRECTIVE ACTION IS TO ALWAYS MAKE OUR STANDARD '1000 FT TO GO' CALLS BEFORE THE ALERTER GOES OFF AND TO BE EVEN MORE ALERT WHEN WE FLY AN ACFT WITH AN INOP ALERTER. ANOTHER THING THAT MIGHT HELP IS LIMITING THE NUMBER OF TIMES ITEMS LIKE THIS MAY BE DEFERRED.

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.