A B727 crew reported an altitude excursion in the vicinity of sdf.

Attributes
ACN	454490
Time
Date	199911
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : sdf.airport
State Reference	KY
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3400 msl bound upper : 4000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : sdf.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B727-200
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : visual arrival : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 120 flight time total : 11000 flight time type : 7000
ASRS Report	454490
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 240 flight time total : 4000 flight time type : 420
ASRS Report	454480
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to assigned altitude
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Given clearance to descend to 4000 ft, captain's leg. I was looking for airport (previously asked by controller). Copilot was working radios and looking for field. I descended to 3400 ft, noticed my error, and immediately climbed to 4000 ft. Controller called, said she saw 3300 on radar, 'what's your altitude?' we told her, 'passing 3800 ft.' no conflicts. I guess I lost altitude awareness while looking for airport. Supplemental information from acn 454480: captain had come off autoplt. Controller queried our altitude as we were climbing through 3800 ft and then deleted our altitude restr as they cleared us for a visual approach. There was no conflict.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B727 CREW RPTED AN ALT EXCURSION IN THE VICINITY OF SDF.

Narrative: GIVEN CLRNC TO DSND TO 4000 FT, CAPT'S LEG. I WAS LOOKING FOR ARPT (PREVIOUSLY ASKED BY CTLR). COPLT WAS WORKING RADIOS AND LOOKING FOR FIELD. I DSNDED TO 3400 FT, NOTICED MY ERROR, AND IMMEDIATELY CLBED TO 4000 FT. CTLR CALLED, SAID SHE SAW 3300 ON RADAR, 'WHAT'S YOUR ALT?' WE TOLD HER, 'PASSING 3800 FT.' NO CONFLICTS. I GUESS I LOST ALT AWARENESS WHILE LOOKING FOR ARPT. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 454480: CAPT HAD COME OFF AUTOPLT. CTLR QUERIED OUR ALT AS WE WERE CLBING THROUGH 3800 FT AND THEN DELETED OUR ALT RESTR AS THEY CLRED US FOR A VISUAL APCH. THERE WAS NO CONFLICT.

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.