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Pilot of an small transport turbo propeller overshot descent assigned altitude due to not setting the autoplt altitude capture mode.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 312740 |
| Time | |
| Date | 199508 |
| Day | Wed |
| Local Time Of Day | 0601 To 1200 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | atc facility : mdw |
| State Reference | IL |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 8500 msl bound upper : 9000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zau tower : mem |
| Operator | general aviation : corporate |
| Make Model Name | Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Navigation In Use | Other Other |
| Flight Phase | descent other |
| Route In Use | enroute airway : zau enroute other |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | Other |
| Function | flight crew : single pilot |
| Qualification | pilot : instrument pilot : private |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 40 flight time total : 3000 flight time type : 40 |
| ASRS Report | 312740 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | government : faa |
| Function | controller : radar |
| Qualification | controller : radar |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance non adherence other |
| Independent Detector | other controllera other flight crewa |
| Resolutory Action | flight crew : became reoriented 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:
ZAU cleared me to 9000 ft from 15000 ft. Conditions at 15000 ft were hard IFR. Pilot set altitude capture to 9000 ft and started descent. At approximately 11000 ft encountered VFR conditions. Pilot neglected to activate altitude capture and descended through 9000 ft to 8500 ft. When pilot noticed the altitude and started the correction, center controller told us about assigned altitude. Pilot was clearly in the wrong. Factors contributing were ice accumulation and descent checklist. After the assigned new altitude is dialed into the autoplt, the pilot must push a button to activate the altitude capture feature of the autoplt. When this is done, a light comes on. Pilot neglected to notice capture light was not illuminated. The corrective action is 2 fold: scan instruments more thoroughly and regularly to monitor autoplt function. Establish a firm procedure for altitude capture engagement and never deviate. Practice.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: PLT OF AN SMT TURBO PROP OVERSHOT DSCNT ASSIGNED ALT DUE TO NOT SETTING THE AUTOPLT ALT CAPTURE MODE.
Narrative: ZAU CLRED ME TO 9000 FT FROM 15000 FT. CONDITIONS AT 15000 FT WERE HARD IFR. PLT SET ALT CAPTURE TO 9000 FT AND STARTED DSCNT. AT APPROX 11000 FT ENCOUNTERED VFR CONDITIONS. PLT NEGLECTED TO ACTIVATE ALT CAPTURE AND DSNDED THROUGH 9000 FT TO 8500 FT. WHEN PLT NOTICED THE ALT AND STARTED THE CORRECTION, CTR CTLR TOLD US ABOUT ASSIGNED ALT. PLT WAS CLRLY IN THE WRONG. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING WERE ICE ACCUMULATION AND DSCNT CHKLIST. AFTER THE ASSIGNED NEW ALT IS DIALED INTO THE AUTOPLT, THE PLT MUST PUSH A BUTTON TO ACTIVATE THE ALT CAPTURE FEATURE OF THE AUTOPLT. WHEN THIS IS DONE, A LIGHT COMES ON. PLT NEGLECTED TO NOTICE CAPTURE LIGHT WAS NOT ILLUMINATED. THE CORRECTIVE ACTION IS 2 FOLD: SCAN INSTS MORE THOROUGHLY AND REGULARLY TO MONITOR AUTOPLT FUNCTION. ESTABLISH A FIRM PROC FOR ALT CAPTURE ENGAGEMENT AND NEVER DEVIATE. PRACTICE.
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.