Altitude deviation altitude overshot in descent my military flight crew.

Attributes
ACN	297130
Time
Date	199502
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : avp
State Reference	PA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 11000 msl bound upper : 12000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zny
Operator	other
Make Model Name	Military Transport
Operating Under FAR Part	other : other
Flight Phase	descent other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : military
Function	flight crew : captain instruction : trainee
Qualification	pilot : military pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 30 flight time total : 2500 flight time type : 1300
ASRS Report	297130
Person 2
Affiliation	government : military
Function	flight crew : first officer observation : company check pilot oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : military
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	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:

We were descending to our destination. ATC cleared us to cross 10 mi north of wilkes barre at 12000 ft. The PNF acknowledged the clearance and placed the altitude in our reminder display (we do not have an altitude alert system). The navigator also placed the altitude in another reminder display we have available. The PF acknowledged the altitude. We were descending from FL200 to 12000 ft. The PNF (myself) was in the left seat and an instructor pilot was flying in the right seat. In was performing copilot duties (looking at a chart for navigational purposes) when ATC instructed to change frequencys. I performed the frequency change when I heard navigator announce '1000 ft to go' I looked up and saw we were passing 11000 ft. I said we were cleared to 12000 ft and instructed the PF to climb back up to 12000 ft. He quickly climbed back up and then I called ATC and told them we were level at 12000 ft. ATC acknowledged. There was no mention of the deviation by ATC. Lack of attention by PF and navigation. (PNF) was distracted by other duties and frequency change. An altitude alert system would have prevented the deviation.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ALTDEV ALT OVERSHOT IN DSCNT MY MIL FLC.

Narrative: WE WERE DSNDING TO OUR DEST. ATC CLRED US TO CROSS 10 MI N OF WILKES BARRE AT 12000 FT. THE PNF ACKNOWLEDGED THE CLRNC AND PLACED THE ALT IN OUR REMINDER DISPLAY (WE DO NOT HAVE AN ALT ALERT SYS). THE NAVIGATOR ALSO PLACED THE ALT IN ANOTHER REMINDER DISPLAY WE HAVE AVAILABLE. THE PF ACKNOWLEDGED THE ALT. WE WERE DSNDING FROM FL200 TO 12000 FT. THE PNF (MYSELF) WAS IN THE L SEAT AND AN INSTRUCTOR PLT WAS FLYING IN THE R SEAT. IN WAS PERFORMING COPLT DUTIES (LOOKING AT A CHART FOR NAVIGATIONAL PURPOSES) WHEN ATC INSTRUCTED TO CHANGE FREQS. I PERFORMED THE FREQ CHANGE WHEN I HEARD NAVIGATOR ANNOUNCE '1000 FT TO GO' I LOOKED UP AND SAW WE WERE PASSING 11000 FT. I SAID WE WERE CLRED TO 12000 FT AND INSTRUCTED THE PF TO CLB BACK UP TO 12000 FT. HE QUICKLY CLBED BACK UP AND THEN I CALLED ATC AND TOLD THEM WE WERE LEVEL AT 12000 FT. ATC ACKNOWLEDGED. THERE WAS NO MENTION OF THE DEV BY ATC. LACK OF ATTN BY PF AND NAV. (PNF) WAS DISTRACTED BY OTHER DUTIES AND FREQ CHANGE. AN ALT ALERT SYS WOULD HAVE PREVENTED THE DEV.

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.