Cessna citation (501) has altitude deviation during descent on STAR into lax.

Attributes
ACN	341410
Time
Date	199607
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : lax
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 13500 msl bound upper : 14000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : lax
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Cessna Citation Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	arrival star : star
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 122 flight time total : 5990 flight time type : 580
ASRS Report	341410
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met altitude deviation : undershoot non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	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:

While on a 4.5 degree descent to cross merma at 14000 ft, the altitude preselect, although previously armed, did not capture. By the time we recognized this, and in an attempt for a smooth leveloff without overstressing the aircraft, we had descended to approximately 13500 ft MSL. We immediately returned to 14000 ft. No conflict was created and no mention of the event was made by socal approach.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CESSNA CITATION (501) HAS ALTDEV DURING DSCNT ON STAR INTO LAX.

Narrative: WHILE ON A 4.5 DEG DSCNT TO CROSS MERMA AT 14000 FT, THE ALT PRESELECT, ALTHOUGH PREVIOUSLY ARMED, DID NOT CAPTURE. BY THE TIME WE RECOGNIZED THIS, AND IN AN ATTEMPT FOR A SMOOTH LEVELOFF WITHOUT OVERSTRESSING THE ACFT, WE HAD DSNDED TO APPROX 13500 FT MSL. WE IMMEDIATELY RETURNED TO 14000 FT. NO CONFLICT WAS CREATED AND NO MENTION OF THE EVENT WAS MADE BY SOCAL APCH.

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.