Altitude deviation.

Attributes
ACN	298630
Time
Date	199503
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : atl
State Reference	GA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 10600 msl bound upper : 11000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : atl
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	L-1011-1 100/200/250
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 120 flight time total : 21000 flight time type : 1200
ASRS Report	298630
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course other
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was tuning navigation radios, first officer was flying at 11000 ft. He thought he heard a new altitude clearance to a lower altitude and started a slow descent. I noticed the altitude change, as did so, at 200 ft low and started to advise first officer of the descent. A recovery was started back to 11000 ft. Approximately 400 ft of altitude loss was maximum deviation. ATC controller called at 10600 ft as we were recovering back to 11000 ft. Rest of flight was normal. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: the reporter flies the L-1011 on international rtes. He had never before flown with the first officer of this incident. This 6 day trip included 4 xings of the atlantic. The first officer is a captain that had to downgrade but is now upgrading again to the B-727. As the first officer wore 4 stripes, the reporter didn't watch the first officer as closely as he might have. The so warned the captain that 'some guys don't like to fly with the first officer' as 'his mind is not always there.' the first officer is finishing up his third divorce. The first officer 'may be the type that has to talk to his chief pilot now and again.' it is 'in first officer's nature to be a little helter skelter.' the first officer failed to check with the other crewmen before he left his altitude. The altitude alerter sounded off properly. The captain could have prevented this by watching the first officer more closely and continuously.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ALTDEV.

Narrative: I WAS TUNING NAV RADIOS, FO WAS FLYING AT 11000 FT. HE THOUGHT HE HEARD A NEW ALT CLRNC TO A LOWER ALT AND STARTED A SLOW DSCNT. I NOTICED THE ALT CHANGE, AS DID SO, AT 200 FT LOW AND STARTED TO ADVISE FO OF THE DSCNT. A RECOVERY WAS STARTED BACK TO 11000 FT. APPROX 400 FT OF ALT LOSS WAS MAX DEV. ATC CTLR CALLED AT 10600 FT AS WE WERE RECOVERING BACK TO 11000 FT. REST OF FLT WAS NORMAL. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE RPTR FLIES THE L-1011 ON INTL RTES. HE HAD NEVER BEFORE FLOWN WITH THE FO OF THIS INCIDENT. THIS 6 DAY TRIP INCLUDED 4 XINGS OF THE ATLANTIC. THE FO IS A CAPT THAT HAD TO DOWNGRADE BUT IS NOW UPGRADING AGAIN TO THE B-727. AS THE FO WORE 4 STRIPES, THE RPTR DIDN'T WATCH THE FO AS CLOSELY AS HE MIGHT HAVE. THE SO WARNED THE CAPT THAT 'SOME GUYS DON'T LIKE TO FLY WITH THE FO' AS 'HIS MIND IS NOT ALWAYS THERE.' THE FO IS FINISHING UP HIS THIRD DIVORCE. THE FO 'MAY BE THE TYPE THAT HAS TO TALK TO HIS CHIEF PLT NOW AND AGAIN.' IT IS 'IN FO'S NATURE TO BE A LITTLE HELTER SKELTER.' THE FO FAILED TO CHK WITH THE OTHER CREWMEN BEFORE HE LEFT HIS ALT. THE ALT ALERTER SOUNDED OFF PROPERLY. THE CAPT COULD HAVE PREVENTED THIS BY WATCHING THE FO MORE CLOSELY AND CONTINUOUSLY.

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.