A310 crew had altitude excursion in ZME class a airspace.

Attributes
ACN	475680
Time
Date	200006
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : lit.airport
State Reference	AR
Altitude	msl bound lower : 23000 msl bound upper : 23800
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zme.artcc tower : zzz.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	A310
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	cruise : enroute altitude change
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 30 flight time total : 4500 flight time type : 2000
ASRS Report	475680
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : published procedure non adherence : clearance non adherence : company policies other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to assigned altitude none taken : detected after the fact
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Aircraft
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Center cleared us to descend to FL230 for traffic. Descent made in 'level change' to expedite descent for center. Upon reaching FL230, I re-engaged 'profile.' aircraft added power and began climb in an effort to regain the descent profile as it was now below that profile. I noticed the climb and recovered at FL238 (800 ft high), clicked off the autoplt and descended back down to FL230.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A310 CREW HAD ALT EXCURSION IN ZME CLASS A AIRSPACE.

Narrative: CTR CLRED US TO DSND TO FL230 FOR TFC. DSCNT MADE IN 'LEVEL CHANGE' TO EXPEDITE DSCNT FOR CTR. UPON REACHING FL230, I RE-ENGAGED 'PROFILE.' ACFT ADDED PWR AND BEGAN CLB IN AN EFFORT TO REGAIN THE DSCNT PROFILE AS IT WAS NOW BELOW THAT PROFILE. I NOTICED THE CLB AND RECOVERED AT FL238 (800 FT HIGH), CLICKED OFF THE AUTOPLT AND DSNDED BACK DOWN TO FL230.

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.