Prior to receiving approach clearance, medium large transport descended through 2 assigned altitudes...

Attributes
ACN	348270
Time
Date	199609
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : pit
State Reference	PA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2700 msl bound upper : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : pit
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : instrument pilot : flight engineer pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 25 flight time total : 3900 flight time type : 300
ASRS Report	348270
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

As PF night IFR approach to pittsburgh, I briefed approach to runway 32, consistent with ATIS and as told by center (to expect). When handed off to pit approach, they asked if we would like the straight in to runway 28. I told the captain, yes. Approach gave us descend to 4000 ft till established. I began to brief the approach to runway 28 at which time the localizer became active (at which time the captain was visual, looking for the airport). As I continued to brief the approach the GS became active. I began to follow it down, while the captain was seating the cabin crew. He came back from the PA and said 'we were given 4000 ft.' I climbed back up and pit approach gave us 3000 ft, I began to recapture the GS and followed it to 2700 ft before leveling back at 3000 ft. I believe that due to the late hour (crew fatigue) I should have stayed with the original plan (runway 32) unless I was completely familiar with runway 28 approach.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PRIOR TO RECEIVING APCH CLRNC, MLG DSNDED THROUGH 2 ASSIGNED ALTS.

Narrative: AS PF NIGHT IFR APCH TO PITTSBURGH, I BRIEFED APCH TO RWY 32, CONSISTENT WITH ATIS AND AS TOLD BY CTR (TO EXPECT). WHEN HANDED OFF TO PIT APCH, THEY ASKED IF WE WOULD LIKE THE STRAIGHT IN TO RWY 28. I TOLD THE CAPT, YES. APCH GAVE US DSND TO 4000 FT TILL ESTABLISHED. I BEGAN TO BRIEF THE APCH TO RWY 28 AT WHICH TIME THE LOC BECAME ACTIVE (AT WHICH TIME THE CAPT WAS VISUAL, LOOKING FOR THE ARPT). AS I CONTINUED TO BRIEF THE APCH THE GS BECAME ACTIVE. I BEGAN TO FOLLOW IT DOWN, WHILE THE CAPT WAS SEATING THE CABIN CREW. HE CAME BACK FROM THE PA AND SAID 'WE WERE GIVEN 4000 FT.' I CLBED BACK UP AND PIT APCH GAVE US 3000 FT, I BEGAN TO RECAPTURE THE GS AND FOLLOWED IT TO 2700 FT BEFORE LEVELING BACK AT 3000 FT. I BELIEVE THAT DUE TO THE LATE HR (CREW FATIGUE) I SHOULD HAVE STAYED WITH THE ORIGINAL PLAN (RWY 32) UNLESS I WAS COMPLETELY FAMILIAR WITH RWY 28 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.