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DC9 crew overshot altitude on descent, then overshot again in climb back to cleared altitude in ZDC airspace.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 423763 |
| Time | |
| Date | 199812 |
| Day | Thu |
| Local Time Of Day | 0601 To 1200 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | atc facility : roa |
| State Reference | VA |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 22500 msl bound upper : 23500 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | IMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | DC-9 30 |
| Flight Phase | descent other |
| Route In Use | arrival other arrival star : star |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : first officer |
| Qualification | pilot : cfi |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 90 flight time total : 5000 flight time type : 1000 |
| ASRS Report | 423763 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : captain oversight : pic |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | altitude deviation : overshoot |
| Independent Detector | other flight crewa |
| Consequence | Other |
| Supplementary | |
| Air Traffic Incident | Pilot Deviation |
Narrative:
We were beginning our descent while on the arrival to rdu (ZDC frequency 127.92). While on a descent to FL230 the captain was flying and speaking to a company pilot riding on our jump seat (the autoplt was in use but it does not have an altitude capture feature). Callouts were made by both the captain and the first officer 1000 ft prior to leveloff as per our company policy. At FL230 I (first officer) noticed the aircraft descending through our assigned altitude. I called out 'altitude.' the captain disconnected the autoplt and attempted to level off, but the aircraft descended 500 ft below our altitude. The captain then overcorrected and climbed to 500 ft above assigned altitude. The air traffic controller made no mention of an aircraft separation problem. I think the captain talking to our jump seat rider distraction him from leveling off. In the future, I will make an 'altitude' callout sooner if I think a deviation will occur. All pilots would be well advised not to be distraction by unnecessary conversations.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: DC9 CREW OVERSHOT ALT ON DSCNT, THEN OVERSHOT AGAIN IN CLB BACK TO CLRED ALT IN ZDC AIRSPACE.
Narrative: WE WERE BEGINNING OUR DSCNT WHILE ON THE ARR TO RDU (ZDC FREQ 127.92). WHILE ON A DSCNT TO FL230 THE CAPT WAS FLYING AND SPEAKING TO A COMPANY PLT RIDING ON OUR JUMP SEAT (THE AUTOPLT WAS IN USE BUT IT DOES NOT HAVE AN ALT CAPTURE FEATURE). CALLOUTS WERE MADE BY BOTH THE CAPT AND THE FO 1000 FT PRIOR TO LEVELOFF AS PER OUR COMPANY POLICY. AT FL230 I (FO) NOTICED THE ACFT DSNDING THROUGH OUR ASSIGNED ALT. I CALLED OUT 'ALT.' THE CAPT DISCONNECTED THE AUTOPLT AND ATTEMPTED TO LEVEL OFF, BUT THE ACFT DSNDED 500 FT BELOW OUR ALT. THE CAPT THEN OVERCORRECTED AND CLBED TO 500 FT ABOVE ASSIGNED ALT. THE AIR TFC CTLR MADE NO MENTION OF AN ACFT SEPARATION PROB. I THINK THE CAPT TALKING TO OUR JUMP SEAT RIDER DISTR HIM FROM LEVELING OFF. IN THE FUTURE, I WILL MAKE AN 'ALT' CALLOUT SOONER IF I THINK A DEV WILL OCCUR. ALL PLTS WOULD BE WELL ADVISED NOT TO BE DISTR BY UNNECESSARY CONVERSATIONS.
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.