Altitude deviation altitude overshot after an 'expect clearance' was issued by ATC.

Attributes
ACN	317537
Time
Date	199510
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : dvv
State Reference	CO
Altitude	msl bound lower : 23500 msl bound upper : 24000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdv
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	arrival other arrival star : star enroute airway : zdv
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : second officer
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 3500 flight time type : 350
ASRS Report	317537
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain instruction : trainee
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : flight engineer pilot : commercial pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 12500 flight time type : 4500
ASRS Report	317540
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance non adherence : far
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance 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:

We were cleared to descend to FL240 and to expect 17000 ft, 250 KTS at ramms. Both pilots and myself were distracted by reviewing the arrival at the same time. The altitude alert sounded at 23700 ft and recovery was initiated, but the altitude reached 23500 ft. The deviation was corrected immediately. A contributing factor was the 'expect 17000 ft, 250 KTS at ramms' statement by the controller. This is the standard crossing clearance and we were close to ramms, so I think that was in the back of our minds even though that was not our clearance. A lesson relearned is to pay close attention to altitude especially within 1000 ft of a level off altitude. Supplemental information from acn 317540: I mentally computed the descent rate required to make the ramms crossing and forgot that we had not yet been cleared. Supplemental information from acn 317538: ATC immediately cleared flight to continue descent to FL230. No conflict due to deviation.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ALTDEV ALT OVERSHOT AFTER AN 'EXPECT CLRNC' WAS ISSUED BY ATC.

Narrative: WE WERE CLRED TO DSND TO FL240 AND TO EXPECT 17000 FT, 250 KTS AT RAMMS. BOTH PLTS AND MYSELF WERE DISTRACTED BY REVIEWING THE ARR AT THE SAME TIME. THE ALT ALERT SOUNDED AT 23700 FT AND RECOVERY WAS INITIATED, BUT THE ALT REACHED 23500 FT. THE DEV WAS CORRECTED IMMEDIATELY. A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR WAS THE 'EXPECT 17000 FT, 250 KTS AT RAMMS' STATEMENT BY THE CTLR. THIS IS THE STANDARD XING CLRNC AND WE WERE CLOSE TO RAMMS, SO I THINK THAT WAS IN THE BACK OF OUR MINDS EVEN THOUGH THAT WAS NOT OUR CLRNC. A LESSON RELEARNED IS TO PAY CLOSE ATTN TO ALT ESPECIALLY WITHIN 1000 FT OF A LEVEL OFF ALT. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 317540: I MENTALLY COMPUTED THE DSCNT RATE REQUIRED TO MAKE THE RAMMS XING AND FORGOT THAT WE HAD NOT YET BEEN CLRED. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 317538: ATC IMMEDIATELY CLRED FLT TO CONTINUE DSCNT TO FL230. NO CONFLICT DUE TO DEV.

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.