DC9 crew overshoots altitude during descent.

Attributes
ACN	450170
Time
Date	199909
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : djb.vortac
State Reference	OH
Altitude	msl bound lower : 11800 msl bound upper : 12000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : cle.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	DC-9 30
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other vortac
Flight Phase	descent : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	arrival other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 10000 flight time type : 1400
ASRS Report	450170
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : multi engine
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to assigned altitude
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

On descent on autoplt, was distraction making turn at intersection (no FMS on our DC9's). Inadvertently descended to 11800 ft, momentarily. Climbed right back to 12000 ft. ATC did ask our altitude, we were at 12000 ft when they asked. No conflicts with other airplanes. If ATC did not give dscnts right before turns in airway with non FMS airplanes, it would help.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: DC9 CREW OVERSHOOTS ALT DURING DSCNT.

Narrative: ON DSCNT ON AUTOPLT, WAS DISTR MAKING TURN AT INTXN (NO FMS ON OUR DC9'S). INADVERTENTLY DSNDED TO 11800 FT, MOMENTARILY. CLBED RIGHT BACK TO 12000 FT. ATC DID ASK OUR ALT, WE WERE AT 12000 FT WHEN THEY ASKED. NO CONFLICTS WITH OTHER AIRPLANES. IF ATC DID NOT GIVE DSCNTS RIGHT BEFORE TURNS IN AIRWAY WITH NON FMS AIRPLANES, IT WOULD HELP.

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.