Mdt crew did not begin descent when cleared by ATC.

Attributes
ACN	463950
Time
Date	200002
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
State Reference	VA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 24000 msl bound upper : 29000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turboprop Eng
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	cruise : level descent : vacating altitude
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 8000 flight time type : 400
ASRS Report	463950
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : undershoot non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued alert flight crew : returned to original clearance
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Cabin Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

We were at 29000 ft and heading towards roa. First officer was the PF. About 100 mi from roa VOR the flight attendant comes in and starts bringing us some food. In the middle of this we get clearance to 24000 ft and direct sbv. I answer the call and repeat the clearance back. The first officer was talking to the flight attendant and missed the clearance so I told him to go direct sbv. Because the distraction I forgot to tell him about the altitude. After a few mins ATC asked us if we had started our descent. That's when I realized that I forgot to tell the first officer about the descent. We quickly descended and there was no conflict so we did not hear about it after that. The timing of the flight attendant coming in the cockpit was really unfortunate but it is no excuse. Since we both did not hear the clearance the first time, we should have verified it again.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MDT CREW DID NOT BEGIN DSCNT WHEN CLRED BY ATC.

Narrative: WE WERE AT 29000 FT AND HEADING TOWARDS ROA. FO WAS THE PF. ABOUT 100 MI FROM ROA VOR THE FLT ATTENDANT COMES IN AND STARTS BRINGING US SOME FOOD. IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS WE GET CLRNC TO 24000 FT AND DIRECT SBV. I ANSWER THE CALL AND REPEAT THE CLRNC BACK. THE FO WAS TALKING TO THE FLT ATTENDANT AND MISSED THE CLRNC SO I TOLD HIM TO GO DIRECT SBV. BECAUSE THE DISTR I FORGOT TO TELL HIM ABOUT THE ALT. AFTER A FEW MINS ATC ASKED US IF WE HAD STARTED OUR DSCNT. THAT'S WHEN I REALIZED THAT I FORGOT TO TELL THE FO ABOUT THE DSCNT. WE QUICKLY DSNDED AND THERE WAS NO CONFLICT SO WE DID NOT HEAR ABOUT IT AFTER THAT. THE TIMING OF THE FLT ATTENDANT COMING IN THE COCKPIT WAS REALLY UNFORTUNATE BUT IT IS NO EXCUSE. SINCE WE BOTH DID NOT HEAR THE CLRNC THE FIRST TIME, WE SHOULD HAVE VERIFIED IT AGAIN.

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.