CL65 crew had altitude overshoot in ZDC class a.

Attributes
ACN	475370
Time
Date	200006
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	intersection : aldan
State Reference	VA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 18000 msl bound upper : 20000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc.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 : boston 3
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 210 flight time total : 5500 flight time type : 800
ASRS Report	475370
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : company policies non adherence : clearance non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance none taken : detected after the fact
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was the captain and PNF on flight from dca to rdu. I received and acknowledged transmission from ZDC to descend to FL200 and proceed direct aldan intersection and the south boston three arrival into rdu. The first officer, the PF, entered the altitude and began descent to FL200. I left the frequency to call the company. The first officer was covering center frequency. Upon completion of the company in-range, I noticed our altitude was FL180 and descending to 10000 ft. I inquired with center to verify a crossing restr at aldan. He advised no restr had been issued and to level at 17000 ft. We leveled at 17000 ft and the controller advised no conflicts occurred. The first officer stated he had descended because we had been issued the STAR, however, I advised him the published altitude was an 'expect' only. To prevent future deviations, a clearer discussion of arrs will be discussed and I will attempt to monitor center frequency when off for ATC clrncs.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CL65 CREW HAD ALT OVERSHOOT IN ZDC CLASS A.

Narrative: I WAS THE CAPT AND PNF ON FLT FROM DCA TO RDU. I RECEIVED AND ACKNOWLEDGED XMISSION FROM ZDC TO DSND TO FL200 AND PROCEED DIRECT ALDAN INTXN AND THE SOUTH BOSTON THREE ARR INTO RDU. THE FO, THE PF, ENTERED THE ALT AND BEGAN DSCNT TO FL200. I LEFT THE FREQ TO CALL THE COMPANY. THE FO WAS COVERING CTR FREQ. UPON COMPLETION OF THE COMPANY IN-RANGE, I NOTICED OUR ALT WAS FL180 AND DSNDING TO 10000 FT. I INQUIRED WITH CTR TO VERIFY A XING RESTR AT ALDAN. HE ADVISED NO RESTR HAD BEEN ISSUED AND TO LEVEL AT 17000 FT. WE LEVELED AT 17000 FT AND THE CTLR ADVISED NO CONFLICTS OCCURRED. THE FO STATED HE HAD DSNDED BECAUSE WE HAD BEEN ISSUED THE STAR, HOWEVER, I ADVISED HIM THE PUBLISHED ALT WAS AN 'EXPECT' ONLY. TO PREVENT FUTURE DEVS, A CLEARER DISCUSSION OF ARRS WILL BE DISCUSSED AND I WILL ATTEMPT TO MONITOR CTR FREQ WHEN OFF FOR ATC CLRNCS.

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.