CL65 crew descended below cleared altitude in ZID class east airspace.

Attributes
ACN	468900
Time
Date	200004
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : rod.vortac
State Reference	OH
Altitude	msl bound lower : 10000 msl bound upper : 11000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Weather Elements	Turbulence
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zid.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Regional Jet CL65, Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	descent : vacating altitude
Route In Use	arrival star : ns
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 250 flight time total : 2400 flight time type : 1300
ASRS Report	468900
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : published procedure non adherence : clearance non adherence : company policies other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued alert flight crew : returned to assigned altitude
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

ZID gave us 'cross 15 mi south of rod at 10000 ft' (I am almost certain). The captain was having problems plugging it in the FMS and did not change the altitude alerter. I was concerned that there may not be enough time (initial altitude was low 200's) so I changed the altitude. Announced that 10000 ft was set. After crossing rod at 10000 ft, another controller said 'weren't you assigned 11000 ft?' the captain responded yes on the radio, and I said no. We climbed back to 11000 ft 5 mi later. The captain later said she was unsure what the altitude was. The jump seater could not remember either. Factors causing the problem (if any) were fixation of the FMS, captain not listening or confirming with first officer, short distance to get down for a crossing restr, and a tired crew. Previous night was a reduced rest. At this point I am unsure if we really were assigned 10000 ft or not. I think that we were assigned 10000 ft.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CL65 CREW DSNDED BELOW CLRED ALT IN ZID CLASS E AIRSPACE.

Narrative: ZID GAVE US 'CROSS 15 MI S OF ROD AT 10000 FT' (I AM ALMOST CERTAIN). THE CAPT WAS HAVING PROBS PLUGGING IT IN THE FMS AND DID NOT CHANGE THE ALT ALERTER. I WAS CONCERNED THAT THERE MAY NOT BE ENOUGH TIME (INITIAL ALT WAS LOW 200'S) SO I CHANGED THE ALT. ANNOUNCED THAT 10000 FT WAS SET. AFTER XING ROD AT 10000 FT, ANOTHER CTLR SAID 'WEREN'T YOU ASSIGNED 11000 FT?' THE CAPT RESPONDED YES ON THE RADIO, AND I SAID NO. WE CLBED BACK TO 11000 FT 5 MI LATER. THE CAPT LATER SAID SHE WAS UNSURE WHAT THE ALT WAS. THE JUMP SEATER COULD NOT REMEMBER EITHER. FACTORS CAUSING THE PROB (IF ANY) WERE FIXATION OF THE FMS, CAPT NOT LISTENING OR CONFIRMING WITH FO, SHORT DISTANCE TO GET DOWN FOR A XING RESTR, AND A TIRED CREW. PREVIOUS NIGHT WAS A REDUCED REST. AT THIS POINT I AM UNSURE IF WE REALLY WERE ASSIGNED 10000 FT OR NOT. I THINK THAT WE WERE ASSIGNED 10000 FT.

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.