B737 crew was given a late clearance to stop descent well above their cleared altitude.

Attributes
ACN	421305
Time
Date	199811
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : gqo
State Reference	TN
Altitude	msl bound lower : 26400 msl bound upper : 28200
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : ztl tower : dtw
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-300
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	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 50 flight time total : 3000 flight time type : 3000
ASRS Report	421305
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

While descending at 3800 FPM through FL282 to FL240, the center controller changed our clearance to descend to FL270. Needless to say, we did not make the leveloff and descended to FL264 before climbing back to FL270. No traffic conflict was evident, and the center controller did not say anything about the momentary deviation.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737 CREW WAS GIVEN A LATE CLRNC TO STOP DSCNT WELL ABOVE THEIR CLRED ALT.

Narrative: WHILE DSNDING AT 3800 FPM THROUGH FL282 TO FL240, THE CTR CTLR CHANGED OUR CLRNC TO DSND TO FL270. NEEDLESS TO SAY, WE DID NOT MAKE THE LEVELOFF AND DSNDED TO FL264 BEFORE CLBING BACK TO FL270. NO TFC CONFLICT WAS EVIDENT, AND THE CTR CTLR DID NOT SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THE MOMENTARY DEV.

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.