A descending B767-300 overshot its assigned altitude.

Attributes
ACN	415670
Time
Date	199809
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : ara
State Reference	FO
Altitude	msl bound lower : 16500 msl bound upper : 17000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : lggg
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B767-300 and 300 ER
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	descent other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	other personnel other
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 210 flight time total : 5500 flight time type : 800
ASRS Report	415670
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance non adherence other other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : became reoriented
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was the relief pilot, talking to our ramp control agent. Athens cleared us down to FL170. Captain probably read back FL170, but PF, the first officer, set FL160. At FL165 the captain noticed us descending to FL160, and mentioned it to the first officer. He responded that we were cleared to FL160. Captain said go back up. First officer responded 'it's too late now.' captain then queried athens to verify correct altitude, after a hesitation they said FL170. They then cleared us to continue descent. There had been no conflict with another aircraft. All 3 pilots in the aircraft made mistakes. The captain did not point at the altitude set in the window according to procedures. The first officer flying did not set in the correct altitude, and did not respond satisfactorily to the captain's efforts to correct the situation. I, as the relief pilot, allowed myself to get distracted by ancillary duties such as getting the ATIS and talking to the company. Fatigue could be a factor. We were in the 9TH hour of our flight. Complacency was definitely a factor. The PF was/is a very confident pilot which could have perhaps contributed to the others complacency.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A DSNDING B767-300 OVERSHOT ITS ASSIGNED ALT.

Narrative: I WAS THE RELIEF PLT, TALKING TO OUR RAMP CTL AGENT. ATHENS CLRED US DOWN TO FL170. CAPT PROBABLY READ BACK FL170, BUT PF, THE FO, SET FL160. AT FL165 THE CAPT NOTICED US DSNDING TO FL160, AND MENTIONED IT TO THE FO. HE RESPONDED THAT WE WERE CLRED TO FL160. CAPT SAID GO BACK UP. FO RESPONDED 'IT'S TOO LATE NOW.' CAPT THEN QUERIED ATHENS TO VERIFY CORRECT ALT, AFTER A HESITATION THEY SAID FL170. THEY THEN CLRED US TO CONTINUE DSCNT. THERE HAD BEEN NO CONFLICT WITH ANOTHER ACFT. ALL 3 PLTS IN THE ACFT MADE MISTAKES. THE CAPT DID NOT POINT AT THE ALT SET IN THE WINDOW ACCORDING TO PROCS. THE FO FLYING DID NOT SET IN THE CORRECT ALT, AND DID NOT RESPOND SATISFACTORILY TO THE CAPT'S EFFORTS TO CORRECT THE SIT. I, AS THE RELIEF PLT, ALLOWED MYSELF TO GET DISTRACTED BY ANCILLARY DUTIES SUCH AS GETTING THE ATIS AND TALKING TO THE COMPANY. FATIGUE COULD BE A FACTOR. WE WERE IN THE 9TH HR OF OUR FLT. COMPLACENCY WAS DEFINITELY A FACTOR. THE PF WAS/IS A VERY CONFIDENT PLT WHICH COULD HAVE PERHAPS CONTRIBUTED TO THE OTHERS COMPLACENCY.

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.