Captain of an light transport jet overshot descent altitude.

Attributes
ACN	299518
Time
Date	199503
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : dag
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 21700 msl bound upper : 24000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zla tower : gmu
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	arrival other arrival star : star
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 75 flight time total : 4500 flight time type : 1500
ASRS Report	299518
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

At or about the jokur intersection, level at FL240, ATC instructed us to descend and maintenance FL230. My copilot was engaged talking to the FBO at macarran field arranging a quick turn due to the serious nature of our patient. Final destination was philadelphia. I replied to ATC and began the descent. As we descended, I realized that I had forgotten the altitude ATC had instructed and asked the copilot to verify what I mistakenly had thought was a descent to FL210. When he was finally able to contact ATC, they advised that the altitude was FL230, but I had descended to FL217. Upon realizing this, I immediately climbed to FL230. I apologized to ATC, and he replied that it was no problem. Upon reflection, I realize that I should have continued to fly the aircraft and let the copilot handle the communications with ATC, and not try to fly and communication during the high workload sits, as we were experiencing.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CAPT OF AN LTT JET OVERSHOT DSCNT ALT.

Narrative: AT OR ABOUT THE JOKUR INTXN, LEVEL AT FL240, ATC INSTRUCTED US TO DSND AND MAINT FL230. MY COPLT WAS ENGAGED TALKING TO THE FBO AT MACARRAN FIELD ARRANGING A QUICK TURN DUE TO THE SERIOUS NATURE OF OUR PATIENT. FINAL DEST WAS PHILADELPHIA. I REPLIED TO ATC AND BEGAN THE DSCNT. AS WE DSNDED, I REALIZED THAT I HAD FORGOTTEN THE ALT ATC HAD INSTRUCTED AND ASKED THE COPLT TO VERIFY WHAT I MISTAKENLY HAD THOUGHT WAS A DSCNT TO FL210. WHEN HE WAS FINALLY ABLE TO CONTACT ATC, THEY ADVISED THAT THE ALT WAS FL230, BUT I HAD DSNDED TO FL217. UPON REALIZING THIS, I IMMEDIATELY CLBED TO FL230. I APOLOGIZED TO ATC, AND HE REPLIED THAT IT WAS NO PROB. UPON REFLECTION, I REALIZE THAT I SHOULD HAVE CONTINUED TO FLY THE ACFT AND LET THE COPLT HANDLE THE COMS WITH ATC, AND NOT TRY TO FLY AND COM DURING THE HIGH WORKLOAD SITS, AS WE WERE EXPERIENCING.

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.