Narrative:

On descent to pdx of flight from ngo (japan), flight XXX, we were on helens 2 arrival (HELNS2). First officer flying (autoplt on) and I was communicating with ATC. We were cleared to cross kalma at 11000 ft and 250 KTS. I read back the clearance to ZSE and the first officer set in the altitude in the autoflt system. It was a beautiful day and we had an excellent view of mount saint helens. Made a PA announcement to the passenger (about mount saint helens). ZSE asked our altitude. I looked and replied we were level 10000 ft. ATC switched us to pdx and I reported in level at 10000 ft. The first officer understood we were cleared to 11000 ft, but must have set 10000 ft. I didn't catch it. Also, we both missed it again at the 1000 ft above callout (company policy). Supplemental information from acn 310250: copilot was flying. I saw him set 11000 ft restr in FMS and reach up to turn altitude selector. At that time flight attendant came to cockpit to pick up trays and I began a PA to passenger about mount saint helens. Copilot had been using vertical speed for descent instead of profile. I did not notice the mistake as I was distracted by peripheral duties: cabin attendant trays, in-range report, PA to passenger, plus cabin attendant missed the step out of cockpit and dropped part of trays with a loud clatter. 10000/11000 ft is a known high bust altitude. I should have looked at the window to provide backup and not assume the same altitude set in FMS was the same set in altitude window. Note: copilot was given this leg, as he was approaching currency date for lndgs and we usually come into btg, 275 degrees, 25 mi at 250 KIAS at 10000 ft. Be careful of habits.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MD-11 FLC SET WRONG ALT IN ALT SELECT WINDOW AND OVERSHOT CLRNC ALT. CTLR INTERVENED.

Narrative: ON DSCNT TO PDX OF FLT FROM NGO (JAPAN), FLT XXX, WE WERE ON HELENS 2 ARR (HELNS2). FO FLYING (AUTOPLT ON) AND I WAS COMMUNICATING WITH ATC. WE WERE CLRED TO CROSS KALMA AT 11000 FT AND 250 KTS. I READ BACK THE CLRNC TO ZSE AND THE FO SET IN THE ALT IN THE AUTOFLT SYS. IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL DAY AND WE HAD AN EXCELLENT VIEW OF MOUNT SAINT HELENS. MADE A PA ANNOUNCEMENT TO THE PAX (ABOUT MOUNT SAINT HELENS). ZSE ASKED OUR ALT. I LOOKED AND REPLIED WE WERE LEVEL 10000 FT. ATC SWITCHED US TO PDX AND I RPTED IN LEVEL AT 10000 FT. THE FO UNDERSTOOD WE WERE CLRED TO 11000 FT, BUT MUST HAVE SET 10000 FT. I DIDN'T CATCH IT. ALSO, WE BOTH MISSED IT AGAIN AT THE 1000 FT ABOVE CALLOUT (COMPANY POLICY). SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 310250: COPLT WAS FLYING. I SAW HIM SET 11000 FT RESTR IN FMS AND REACH UP TO TURN ALT SELECTOR. AT THAT TIME FLT ATTENDANT CAME TO COCKPIT TO PICK UP TRAYS AND I BEGAN A PA TO PAX ABOUT MOUNT SAINT HELENS. COPLT HAD BEEN USING VERT SPD FOR DSCNT INSTEAD OF PROFILE. I DID NOT NOTICE THE MISTAKE AS I WAS DISTRACTED BY PERIPHERAL DUTIES: CABIN ATTENDANT TRAYS, IN-RANGE RPT, PA TO PAX, PLUS CABIN ATTENDANT MISSED THE STEP OUT OF COCKPIT AND DROPPED PART OF TRAYS WITH A LOUD CLATTER. 10000/11000 FT IS A KNOWN HIGH BUST ALT. I SHOULD HAVE LOOKED AT THE WINDOW TO PROVIDE BACKUP AND NOT ASSUME THE SAME ALT SET IN FMS WAS THE SAME SET IN ALT WINDOW. NOTE: COPLT WAS GIVEN THIS LEG, AS HE WAS APCHING CURRENCY DATE FOR LNDGS AND WE USUALLY COME INTO BTG, 275 DEGS, 25 MI AT 250 KIAS AT 10000 FT. BE CAREFUL OF HABITS.

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.