An air carrier light transport descended through its assigned altitude.

Attributes
ACN	303480
Time
Date	199505
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : aus
State Reference	TX
Altitude	msl bound lower : 5600 msl bound upper : 6000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : aus
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 : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : atp pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 250 flight time total : 5000 flight time type : 2000
ASRS Report	303480
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance
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:

Flight was told to descend from 11000 ft to 6000 ft. In the descent, PF and PNF were discussing aircraft system. PF descended through 6000 ft down to 5600 ft. PNF caught mistake and told PF to climb back up. Cause: 1) altitude alerter did not chime very loudly. 2) PF and PNF were talking too much. Solution: turn up the audio on altitude alerter and crews stop talking so much and pay more attention to situational awareness.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN ACR LTT DSNDED THROUGH ITS ASSIGNED ALT.

Narrative: FLT WAS TOLD TO DSND FROM 11000 FT TO 6000 FT. IN THE DSCNT, PF AND PNF WERE DISCUSSING ACFT SYS. PF DSNDED THROUGH 6000 FT DOWN TO 5600 FT. PNF CAUGHT MISTAKE AND TOLD PF TO CLB BACK UP. CAUSE: 1) ALT ALERTER DID NOT CHIME VERY LOUDLY. 2) PF AND PNF WERE TALKING TOO MUCH. SOLUTION: TURN UP THE AUDIO ON ALT ALERTER AND CREWS STOP TALKING SO MUCH AND PAY MORE ATTN TO SITUATIONAL AWARENESS.

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.