B737 overshot altitude on descent after ATC changed clearance in ZTL airspace.

Attributes
ACN	421200
Time
Date	199811
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : gqo
State Reference	IN
Altitude	msl bound lower : 26400 msl bound upper : 27000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : ztl
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	arrival other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 50 flight time total : 8500 flight time type : 50
ASRS Report	421200
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

While descending at nearly 4000 FPM passing FL282 for FL240, ATC amended clearance to FL270. This resulted in a descent stopped at FL264 and a resulting climb back to FL270. Autoplt was on at time of amended clearance, and mode display indicated altitude acquired, however, the altitude was not captured. Disconnected autoplt, stopped descent and climbed back to altitude. There was no traffic conflict evident and controller did not mention the altitude deviation.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737 OVERSHOT ALT ON DSCNT AFTER ATC CHANGED CLRNC IN ZTL AIRSPACE.

Narrative: WHILE DSNDING AT NEARLY 4000 FPM PASSING FL282 FOR FL240, ATC AMENDED CLRNC TO FL270. THIS RESULTED IN A DSCNT STOPPED AT FL264 AND A RESULTING CLB BACK TO FL270. AUTOPLT WAS ON AT TIME OF AMENDED CLRNC, AND MODE DISPLAY INDICATED ALT ACQUIRED, HOWEVER, THE ALT WAS NOT CAPTURED. DISCONNECTED AUTOPLT, STOPPED DSCNT AND CLBED BACK TO ALT. THERE WAS NO TFC CONFLICT EVIDENT AND CTLR DID NOT MENTION THE ALTDEV.

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.