Captain of a DHC8 overshot assigned altitude during descent when the autoplt failed to capture the preselected altitude. The flight crew admitted that they had not effectively monitored the aircraft's autoplt responses to assure that aircraft leveled off at the assigned altitude.

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Attributes
ACN	374860
Time
Date	199707
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : msp
State Reference	MN
Altitude	msl bound lower : 7750 msl bound upper : 8000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : msp
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Dash 8 Series Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 117 flight time total : 5700 flight time type : 400
ASRS Report	374860
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot 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:

Minneapolis approach gave us descent to 8000 ft which was set into the alerter. The autoplt was engaged and flying the aircraft, but failed to capture at 8000 ft. We noticed the deviation at about 7750 ft. I'm not sure why the autoplt didn't capture because it worked fine before and after the deviation. I learned not to become complacent and make sure to closely monitor the autoplt at all times no mater how well you think it's working.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CAPT OF A DHC8 OVERSHOT ASSIGNED ALT DURING DSCNT WHEN THE AUTOPLT FAILED TO CAPTURE THE PRESELECTED ALT. THE FLC ADMITTED THAT THEY HAD NOT EFFECTIVELY MONITORED THE ACFT'S AUTOPLT RESPONSES TO ASSURE THAT ACFT LEVELED OFF AT THE ASSIGNED ALT.

Narrative: MINNEAPOLIS APCH GAVE US DSCNT TO 8000 FT WHICH WAS SET INTO THE ALERTER. THE AUTOPLT WAS ENGAGED AND FLYING THE ACFT, BUT FAILED TO CAPTURE AT 8000 FT. WE NOTICED THE DEV AT ABOUT 7750 FT. I'M NOT SURE WHY THE AUTOPLT DIDN'T CAPTURE BECAUSE IT WORKED FINE BEFORE AND AFTER THE DEV. I LEARNED NOT TO BECOME COMPLACENT AND MAKE SURE TO CLOSELY MONITOR THE AUTOPLT AT ALL TIMES NO MATER HOW WELL YOU THINK IT'S WORKING.

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.