<< >> NASA ASRS Report 304460, May 1995

Altitude deviation altitude excursion. Air carrier descends below its assigned altitude while attempting to acquire the airport visually.

Attributes
ACN	304460
Time
Date	199505
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : vuz airport : bhm
State Reference	AL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2000 msl bound upper : 2500
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : bhm
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : atp pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 160 flight time total : 6600 flight time type : 90
ASRS Report	304460
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

On a scheduled flight from mco-bhm at night, I was the captain and PNF. We were being vectored for the approach and we were cleared down to 2500 ft. The first officer disconnected the autoplt and started to hand fly the airplane. We were busy trying to locate the airport visually and due to the terrain and a few scattered clouds it was proving difficult. At 2000 ft ATC called and said to 'maintain 2500 ft.' we thanked ATC and climbed back up to 2500 ft MSL. I believe the fact that we were preoccupied with finding the airport visually was the main cause of the problem. Also contributing to the problem was my unfamiliarity with the aircraft due to my low time. To prevent this problem I think we need to remember that one crew member still needs to fly the aircraft at all times. We should not let both crew members get preoccupied with any one task.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ALTDEV ALT EXCURSION. ACR DSNDS BELOW ITS ASSIGNED ALT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACQUIRE THE ARPT VISUALLY.

Narrative: ON A SCHEDULED FLT FROM MCO-BHM AT NIGHT, I WAS THE CAPT AND PNF. WE WERE BEING VECTORED FOR THE APCH AND WE WERE CLRED DOWN TO 2500 FT. THE FO DISCONNECTED THE AUTOPLT AND STARTED TO HAND FLY THE AIRPLANE. WE WERE BUSY TRYING TO LOCATE THE ARPT VISUALLY AND DUE TO THE TERRAIN AND A FEW SCATTERED CLOUDS IT WAS PROVING DIFFICULT. AT 2000 FT ATC CALLED AND SAID TO 'MAINTAIN 2500 FT.' WE THANKED ATC AND CLBED BACK UP TO 2500 FT MSL. I BELIEVE THE FACT THAT WE WERE PREOCCUPIED WITH FINDING THE ARPT VISUALLY WAS THE MAIN CAUSE OF THE PROB. ALSO CONTRIBUTING TO THE PROB WAS MY UNFAMILIARITY WITH THE ACFT DUE TO MY LOW TIME. TO PREVENT THIS PROB I THINK WE NEED TO REMEMBER THAT ONE CREW MEMBER STILL NEEDS TO FLY THE ACFT AT ALL TIMES. WE SHOULD NOT LET BOTH CREW MEMBERS GET PREOCCUPIED WITH ANY ONE TASK.

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.