B757 altitude deviation near aus.

Attributes
ACN	440340
Time
Date	199906
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : aus.airport
State Reference	TX
Altitude	msl bound lower : 21000 msl bound upper : 22000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zfw.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B757-200
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : atp pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 75 flight time total : 7815 flight time type : 75
ASRS Report	440340
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe altitude deviation : undershoot non adherence : clearance non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Chain of events: flying between dfw and aus at FL210, we were told to switch to ZFW just a few mins from top of descent into aus. When we checked in with ZFW, the first officer called at FL220. The controller said he showed us at FL210. Our altitude mode selector was set at FL220, however, the FMC had been programmed on the ground at dfw in accordance with the published flight plan at FL210. We must have been cleared to FL220, but the FMC would not let the autoplt fly above the programmed altitude of FL210 set in the FMC. Both pilots had missed the leveloff at the incorrect altitude. Human performance considerations: I, as PIC, assume responsibility for this mistake. On the way from louisville to dfw, I realized I probably should not have been flying because of what I was feeling (personal problems) and my preoccupied mind. I feel that I missed the incorrect leveloff because my mind was somewhere else.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B757 ALTDEV NEAR AUS.

Narrative: CHAIN OF EVENTS: FLYING BTWN DFW AND AUS AT FL210, WE WERE TOLD TO SWITCH TO ZFW JUST A FEW MINS FROM TOP OF DSCNT INTO AUS. WHEN WE CHKED IN WITH ZFW, THE FO CALLED AT FL220. THE CTLR SAID HE SHOWED US AT FL210. OUR ALT MODE SELECTOR WAS SET AT FL220, HOWEVER, THE FMC HAD BEEN PROGRAMMED ON THE GND AT DFW IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PUBLISHED FLT PLAN AT FL210. WE MUST HAVE BEEN CLRED TO FL220, BUT THE FMC WOULD NOT LET THE AUTOPLT FLY ABOVE THE PROGRAMMED ALT OF FL210 SET IN THE FMC. BOTH PLTS HAD MISSED THE LEVELOFF AT THE INCORRECT ALT. HUMAN PERFORMANCE CONSIDERATIONS: I, AS PIC, ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS MISTAKE. ON THE WAY FROM LOUISVILLE TO DFW, I REALIZED I PROBABLY SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN FLYING BECAUSE OF WHAT I WAS FEELING (PERSONAL PROBS) AND MY PREOCCUPIED MIND. I FEEL THAT I MISSED THE INCORRECT LEVELOFF BECAUSE MY MIND WAS SOMEWHERE ELSE.

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.