After receiving an altitude crossing restr, the PF inadvertently leveled 1000 ft above the assigned altitude. The PNF was getting the ATIS and making a PA and failed to notice the altitude deviation. ARTCC radar controller intervened.

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Attributes
ACN	333170
Time
Date	199604
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : obk
State Reference	IL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 10000 msl bound upper : 11000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
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 : zau
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : instrument pilot : flight engineer pilot : commercial pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 19100 flight time type : 800
ASRS Report	333170
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
ASRS Report	333058
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met altitude deviation : undershoot 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:

We were cleared by ZAU to cross pivot at 10000 ft which I set and PF acknowledged in our altitude alert window. PF was descending. I was off frequency momentarily getting ATIS and making PA announcement. When I got back in loop, everything seemed stabilized (level and on speed). Just then, ZAU called us and said maintain 10000 ft. I checked and we were level at 11000 ft just a couple mi west of pivot (our crossing point). PF said she didn't realize she had leveled off at 11000 ft and we immediately descended to 10000 ft. Upon completion of the flight we had a thorough discussion about how this happened and what SOP breakdowns (if any) would have prevented it. Obviously PF did not get a 1000 ft to go call from me (I was off and busy), or from the aircraft system which should have raised a flag about leveling off at 11000 ft. She also said that she was distracted with the airspeed trying to maintain 320 KTS. We don't believe this caused any conflict, or was a problem with ZAU, but we know how it occurred and how to be alert to not allowing such occurrences.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AFTER RECEIVING AN ALT XING RESTR, THE PF INADVERTENTLY LEVELED 1000 FT ABOVE THE ASSIGNED ALT. THE PNF WAS GETTING THE ATIS AND MAKING A PA AND FAILED TO NOTICE THE ALTDEV. ARTCC RADAR CTLR INTERVENED.

Narrative: WE WERE CLRED BY ZAU TO CROSS PIVOT AT 10000 FT WHICH I SET AND PF ACKNOWLEDGED IN OUR ALT ALERT WINDOW. PF WAS DSNDING. I WAS OFF FREQ MOMENTARILY GETTING ATIS AND MAKING PA ANNOUNCEMENT. WHEN I GOT BACK IN LOOP, EVERYTHING SEEMED STABILIZED (LEVEL AND ON SPD). JUST THEN, ZAU CALLED US AND SAID MAINTAIN 10000 FT. I CHKED AND WE WERE LEVEL AT 11000 FT JUST A COUPLE MI W OF PIVOT (OUR XING POINT). PF SAID SHE DIDN'T REALIZE SHE HAD LEVELED OFF AT 11000 FT AND WE IMMEDIATELY DSNDED TO 10000 FT. UPON COMPLETION OF THE FLT WE HAD A THOROUGH DISCUSSION ABOUT HOW THIS HAPPENED AND WHAT SOP BREAKDOWNS (IF ANY) WOULD HAVE PREVENTED IT. OBVIOUSLY PF DID NOT GET A 1000 FT TO GO CALL FROM ME (I WAS OFF AND BUSY), OR FROM THE ACFT SYS WHICH SHOULD HAVE RAISED A FLAG ABOUT LEVELING OFF AT 11000 FT. SHE ALSO SAID THAT SHE WAS DISTRACTED WITH THE AIRSPD TRYING TO MAINTAIN 320 KTS. WE DON'T BELIEVE THIS CAUSED ANY CONFLICT, OR WAS A PROB WITH ZAU, BUT WE KNOW HOW IT OCCURRED AND HOW TO BE ALERT TO NOT ALLOWING SUCH OCCURRENCES.

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.