2-man crew on descent, overshot assigned altitude.

Attributes
ACN	490820
Time
Date	200011
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	intersection : valre
State Reference	NY
Altitude	msl bound lower : 16600 msl bound upper : 17000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zbw.artcc tracon : n90.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	DC-9 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : vacating altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 250 flight time total : 14000 flight time type : 7000
ASRS Report	490820
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : company policies non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to assigned altitude
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Aircraft
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

We were cleared to 17000 ft (altimeter 29.84). As we were descending through 16600 ft ZBW asked us to confirm we were cleared to 17000 ft. We noted the error and reported we were returning to 17000 ft. Human performance considerations. I accepted the aircraft with autoplt unserviceable as the WX was forecast good. The vertical speed autoplt added to crew workload, and I believe contributed to the error.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: 2-MAN CREW ON DSCNT, OVERSHOT ASSIGNED ALT.

Narrative: WE WERE CLRED TO 17000 FT (ALTIMETER 29.84). AS WE WERE DSNDING THROUGH 16600 FT ZBW ASKED US TO CONFIRM WE WERE CLRED TO 17000 FT. WE NOTED THE ERROR AND RPTED WE WERE RETURNING TO 17000 FT. HUMAN PERFORMANCE CONSIDERATIONS. I ACCEPTED THE ACFT WITH AUTOPLT UNSERVICEABLE AS THE WX WAS FORECAST GOOD. THE VERT SPD AUTOPLT ADDED TO CREW WORKLOAD, AND I BELIEVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE ERROR.

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.