Captain of an medium large transport overshot descent altitude.

Attributes
ACN	316386
Time
Date	199509
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : mmj airport : pit
State Reference	PA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 5500 msl bound upper : 6000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : pit tower : phl
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	other other : other pilot : cfi pilot : atp pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 12800 flight time type : 850
ASRS Report	316386
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

We were in the middle of the checklist when given a descent from 7000 ft to 6000 ft. I was reading the checklist, while the copilot was flying the aircraft on the autoplt. At plus or minus 6500 ft I checked the altitude and it appeared that we were preparing to level at 6000 ft. While continuing with reading the checklist, I heard the altitude warning and looked to see we were at 5500 ft. We corrected immediately. This is a lesson I have learned before: constant vigilance -- constant vigilance. I miss the altitude capture mode of more sophisticated autoplts!

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CAPT OF AN MLG OVERSHOT DSCNT ALT.

Narrative: WE WERE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CHKLIST WHEN GIVEN A DSCNT FROM 7000 FT TO 6000 FT. I WAS READING THE CHKLIST, WHILE THE COPLT WAS FLYING THE ACFT ON THE AUTOPLT. AT PLUS OR MINUS 6500 FT I CHKED THE ALT AND IT APPEARED THAT WE WERE PREPARING TO LEVEL AT 6000 FT. WHILE CONTINUING WITH READING THE CHKLIST, I HEARD THE ALT WARNING AND LOOKED TO SEE WE WERE AT 5500 FT. WE CORRECTED IMMEDIATELY. THIS IS A LESSON I HAVE LEARNED BEFORE: CONSTANT VIGILANCE -- CONSTANT VIGILANCE. I MISS THE ALT CAPTURE MODE OF MORE SOPHISTICATED AUTOPLTS!

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.