A cpr flight crew flying a citation fails to level off at their assigned altitude.

Attributes
ACN	458563
Time
Date	199912
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : zid.artcc
State Reference	ID
Altitude	msl bound lower : 30700 msl bound upper : 31000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zid.artcc
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Citation V
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	cruise : enroute altitude change
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : corporate
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 45 flight time total : 3500 flight time type : 1200
ASRS Report	458563
Person 2
Affiliation	company : corporate
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : atp pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 54 flight time total : 6500 flight time type : 2324
ASRS Report	458210
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : far non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	controller : issued advisory 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:

En route from pwk to bna, we were at cruising altitude of FL330. I noted that according to our FMS, because of the increased headwind at FL330, we were going to burn just as much fuel and take longer to get to bna as it would at FL290. The sic requested FL290. The controller cleared us to FL310 and at the same time gave us another squawk code. While the sic changed the transponder code, I set FL310 in the altitude preselect and started the descent. I noticed the altimeter as we were descending through approximately FL308.5. I looked at the preselect and it was set to FL290. I asked the sic 'were we cleared to FL290, because the last thing I remember hearing was FL310?' he said he wasn't sure and that we had better stop the descent. I immediately commanded the autoplt to level off, which occurred at just below FL307. As the sic was about to verify assigned altitude, center called and asked us to verify level at FL310, at which point I initiated a climb. The sic responded that we were at FL307 climbing back to FL310. After resetting the transponder, the sic reset the altitude preselect to FL290 without my knowledge. He said he didn't know I had already reset the altitude, and since he had requested FL290 that is what he dialed in, even though he read back FL310 to the controller -- a mental lapse. To correct this problem, we have decided that only the sic (right seat, PNF) shall set the altitude preselect and the PIC (left seat, PF) will confirm visually and verbally.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A CPR FLC FLYING A CITATION FAILS TO LEVEL OFF AT THEIR ASSIGNED ALT.

Narrative: ENRTE FROM PWK TO BNA, WE WERE AT CRUISING ALT OF FL330. I NOTED THAT ACCORDING TO OUR FMS, BECAUSE OF THE INCREASED HEADWIND AT FL330, WE WERE GOING TO BURN JUST AS MUCH FUEL AND TAKE LONGER TO GET TO BNA AS IT WOULD AT FL290. THE SIC REQUESTED FL290. THE CTLR CLRED US TO FL310 AND AT THE SAME TIME GAVE US ANOTHER SQUAWK CODE. WHILE THE SIC CHANGED THE XPONDER CODE, I SET FL310 IN THE ALT PRESELECT AND STARTED THE DSCNT. I NOTICED THE ALTIMETER AS WE WERE DSNDING THROUGH APPROX FL308.5. I LOOKED AT THE PRESELECT AND IT WAS SET TO FL290. I ASKED THE SIC 'WERE WE CLRED TO FL290, BECAUSE THE LAST THING I REMEMBER HEARING WAS FL310?' HE SAID HE WASN'T SURE AND THAT WE HAD BETTER STOP THE DSCNT. I IMMEDIATELY COMMANDED THE AUTOPLT TO LEVEL OFF, WHICH OCCURRED AT JUST BELOW FL307. AS THE SIC WAS ABOUT TO VERIFY ASSIGNED ALT, CTR CALLED AND ASKED US TO VERIFY LEVEL AT FL310, AT WHICH POINT I INITIATED A CLB. THE SIC RESPONDED THAT WE WERE AT FL307 CLBING BACK TO FL310. AFTER RESETTING THE XPONDER, THE SIC RESET THE ALT PRESELECT TO FL290 WITHOUT MY KNOWLEDGE. HE SAID HE DIDN'T KNOW I HAD ALREADY RESET THE ALT, AND SINCE HE HAD REQUESTED FL290 THAT IS WHAT HE DIALED IN, EVEN THOUGH HE READ BACK FL310 TO THE CTLR -- A MENTAL LAPSE. TO CORRECT THIS PROB, WE HAVE DECIDED THAT ONLY THE SIC (R SEAT, PNF) SHALL SET THE ALT PRESELECT AND THE PIC (L SEAT, PF) WILL CONFIRM VISUALLY AND VERBALLY.

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.