<< >> NASA ASRS Report 414940, September 1998

A descending falcon 900, a DA90, overshot its assigned altitude of 13000 ft. ARTCC radar controller noted error and aircraft corrected its altitude.

Attributes
ACN	414940
Time
Date	199809
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : pmd
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 12000 msl bound upper : 13000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zla
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Falcon 900
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	arrival other arrival star : star enroute airway : zla
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : first officer oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 10000 flight time type : 3700
ASRS Report	414940
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : captain
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 105 flight time total : 9300 flight time type : 3300
ASRS Report	415014
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance non adherence other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	flight crew : became reoriented 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:

Clearance was to 13000 ft after majek intersection. Callout 14000 ft for 13000 ft was made by both pilots. As PNF, I was setting up approach on FMS when center called out that clearance was to 13000 ft. When I looked up, we were at 12000 ft. Error was promptly corrected with no apparent conflict with other traffic. PF, captain, did not set altitude selector to 13000 ft, 14000 ft was left on altitude selector and vertical speed mode was selected. I did not notice nor hear aural altitude alerter. One factor was failure to observe leveloff after making '14000 ft for 13000 ft' call. Another factor was failure to reset altitude selector. Supplemental information from acn 415014: I began a descent on the autoplt in vertical speed mode. I thought that I had reset the altitude selector to 13000 ft. As we descended through 13700 ft, the aural 'altitude' sounded and both pilots responded '14000 ft for 13000 ft.' I was reading WX from our afis screen, when center called and said our assigned altitude is 13000 ft. When the aural warning sounded 'altitude' at 13700 ft, I should have doublechked the preselector for the correct setting. I also normally watch the autoplt level the altitude, but this time I allowed myself to be distraction and did not catch the altitude bust.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A DSNDING FALCON 900, A DA90, OVERSHOT ITS ASSIGNED ALT OF 13000 FT. ARTCC RADAR CTLR NOTED ERROR AND ACFT CORRECTED ITS ALT.

Narrative: CLRNC WAS TO 13000 FT AFTER MAJEK INTXN. CALLOUT 14000 FT FOR 13000 FT WAS MADE BY BOTH PLTS. AS PNF, I WAS SETTING UP APCH ON FMS WHEN CTR CALLED OUT THAT CLRNC WAS TO 13000 FT. WHEN I LOOKED UP, WE WERE AT 12000 FT. ERROR WAS PROMPTLY CORRECTED WITH NO APPARENT CONFLICT WITH OTHER TFC. PF, CAPT, DID NOT SET ALT SELECTOR TO 13000 FT, 14000 FT WAS LEFT ON ALT SELECTOR AND VERT SPD MODE WAS SELECTED. I DID NOT NOTICE NOR HEAR AURAL ALT ALERTER. ONE FACTOR WAS FAILURE TO OBSERVE LEVELOFF AFTER MAKING '14000 FT FOR 13000 FT' CALL. ANOTHER FACTOR WAS FAILURE TO RESET ALT SELECTOR. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 415014: I BEGAN A DSCNT ON THE AUTOPLT IN VERT SPD MODE. I THOUGHT THAT I HAD RESET THE ALT SELECTOR TO 13000 FT. AS WE DSNDED THROUGH 13700 FT, THE AURAL 'ALT' SOUNDED AND BOTH PLTS RESPONDED '14000 FT FOR 13000 FT.' I WAS READING WX FROM OUR AFIS SCREEN, WHEN CTR CALLED AND SAID OUR ASSIGNED ALT IS 13000 FT. WHEN THE AURAL WARNING SOUNDED 'ALT' AT 13700 FT, I SHOULD HAVE DOUBLECHKED THE PRESELECTOR FOR THE CORRECT SETTING. I ALSO NORMALLY WATCH THE AUTOPLT LEVEL THE ALT, BUT THIS TIME I ALLOWED MYSELF TO BE DISTR AND DID NOT CATCH THE ALT BUST.

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.