SA227 PIC allows his first officer to descend out of their assigned altitude while he is watching an aircraft that he assumes they will be following. PIC says he failed to make an altitude call to the first officer.

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Attributes
ACN	381190
Time
Date	199709
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : anc
State Reference	AK
Altitude	msl bound lower : 5800 msl bound upper : 7000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : anc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	SA-227 AC Metro III
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Flight Phase	cruise other descent other
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	other : unknown
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : atp pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 300 flight time total : 7000 flight time type : 2000
ASRS Report	381190
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
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:

On descent into anchorage, center handed us off to approach with a descent to 7000 ft. Approach was busy, and while he was talking to other aircraft, we descended through our altitude by close to 1200 ft. The first officer was flying and I was watching another aircraft that we would probably be following. I failed to make an 'approaching' call within 200 ft of his altitude. I should not have let the other distraction keep me from monitoring the position of my aircraft.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SA227 PIC ALLOWS HIS FO TO DSND OUT OF THEIR ASSIGNED ALT WHILE HE IS WATCHING AN ACFT THAT HE ASSUMES THEY WILL BE FOLLOWING. PIC SAYS HE FAILED TO MAKE AN ALT CALL TO THE FO.

Narrative: ON DSCNT INTO ANCHORAGE, CTR HANDED US OFF TO APCH WITH A DSCNT TO 7000 FT. APCH WAS BUSY, AND WHILE HE WAS TALKING TO OTHER ACFT, WE DSNDED THROUGH OUR ALT BY CLOSE TO 1200 FT. THE FO WAS FLYING AND I WAS WATCHING ANOTHER ACFT THAT WE WOULD PROBABLY BE FOLLOWING. I FAILED TO MAKE AN 'APCHING' CALL WITHIN 200 FT OF HIS ALT. I SHOULD NOT HAVE LET THE OTHER DISTR KEEP ME FROM MONITORING THE POS OF MY ACFT.

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.