Large transport crew on final overshot assigned altitude.

Attributes
ACN	501659
Time
Date	200102
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : iah.airport
State Reference	TX
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2700 msl bound upper : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : i90.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	ils localizer & glide slope : 27 other
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : instrument precision arrival star : daisetta
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 240 flight time total : 25000 flight time type : 8000
ASRS Report	501659
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to assigned altitude
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Altitude deviation at trann. Too many instructions from controller during critical phase of approach. Approach was changed after daisetta, which was followed by frequent heading, speed, and altitude changes. The controller was asking for speeds that required full flaps, approach reference speed before trann -- we denied his request. With all this going on, including the flying, we briefed the mandatory step-downs. During the last couple of seconds before trann, the controller's clearance was to maintain 3000 ft to trann. I watched copilot leveloff at 3000 ft. I then went to other duties. He descended 300 ft below 3000 ft but corrected (it was VFR).

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: LGT CREW ON FINAL OVERSHOT ASSIGNED ALT.

Narrative: ALTDEV AT TRANN. TOO MANY INSTRUCTIONS FROM CTLR DURING CRITICAL PHASE OF APCH. APCH WAS CHANGED AFTER DAISETTA, WHICH WAS FOLLOWED BY FREQUENT HDG, SPD, AND ALT CHANGES. THE CTLR WAS ASKING FOR SPDS THAT REQUIRED FULL FLAPS, APCH REF SPD BEFORE TRANN -- WE DENIED HIS REQUEST. WITH ALL THIS GOING ON, INCLUDING THE FLYING, WE BRIEFED THE MANDATORY STEP-DOWNS. DURING THE LAST COUPLE OF SECONDS BEFORE TRANN, THE CTLR'S CLRNC WAS TO MAINTAIN 3000 FT TO TRANN. I WATCHED COPLT LEVELOFF AT 3000 FT. I THEN WENT TO OTHER DUTIES. HE DSNDED 300 FT BELOW 3000 FT BUT CORRECTED (IT WAS VFR).

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.