Flight crew of a DHC8 overshot an intermediate altitude during descent into class B airspace.

Attributes
ACN	460990
Time
Date	200001
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : phl.airport
State Reference	PA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 5100 msl bound upper : 5500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : phl.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Dash 8-100
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : vacating altitude
Route In Use	arrival : vfr
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 2000 flight time type : 200
ASRS Report	460990
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	atc equipment other atc equipment : radar other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued alert controller : issued new clearance
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

On jan/xa/00 while flying from isp to phl, we canceled IFR and proceeded VFR at 8500 ft to phl. When switched to phl approach, we were cleared into the class B airspace for the visual runway 27R. At this time ATC told us to descend to 5500 ft. I set 5000 ft into the altitude selector as the captain (the PNF) read back the altitude to ATC, after which I read the altitude to the captain as per company procedures. He did not hear me read back 5000 ft instead of 5500 ft. At the time he was also calling in-range and performing various arrival procedures. While at 5100 ft, ATC asked us to say our altitude. I read 5100 ft descending to 5000 ft. ATC then advised to hold 5000 ft and that the original altitude assignment was 5500 ft. We were then cleared for the approach and landed with no further conflict. Cause: flight crew doing too many tasks at same time, while in heavy traffic ATC area.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLC OF A DHC8 OVERSHOT AN INTERMEDIATE ALT DURING DSCNT INTO CLASS B AIRSPACE.

Narrative: ON JAN/XA/00 WHILE FLYING FROM ISP TO PHL, WE CANCELED IFR AND PROCEEDED VFR AT 8500 FT TO PHL. WHEN SWITCHED TO PHL APCH, WE WERE CLRED INTO THE CLASS B AIRSPACE FOR THE VISUAL RWY 27R. AT THIS TIME ATC TOLD US TO DSND TO 5500 FT. I SET 5000 FT INTO THE ALT SELECTOR AS THE CAPT (THE PNF) READ BACK THE ALT TO ATC, AFTER WHICH I READ THE ALT TO THE CAPT AS PER COMPANY PROCS. HE DID NOT HEAR ME READ BACK 5000 FT INSTEAD OF 5500 FT. AT THE TIME HE WAS ALSO CALLING IN-RANGE AND PERFORMING VARIOUS ARR PROCS. WHILE AT 5100 FT, ATC ASKED US TO SAY OUR ALT. I READ 5100 FT DSNDING TO 5000 FT. ATC THEN ADVISED TO HOLD 5000 FT AND THAT THE ORIGINAL ALT ASSIGNMENT WAS 5500 FT. WE WERE THEN CLRED FOR THE APCH AND LANDED WITH NO FURTHER CONFLICT. CAUSE: FLC DOING TOO MANY TASKS AT SAME TIME, WHILE IN HVY TFC ATC AREA.

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.