DC9-30 crew had altitude overshoot in ZME class a airspace.

Attributes
ACN	502350
Time
Date	200102
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
State Reference	AR
Altitude	msl bound lower : 18300 msl bound upper : 19000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Weather Elements	Turbulence other
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zme.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	DC-9 30
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 : 190 flight time total : 9300 flight time type : 6200
ASRS Report	502350
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 6000 flight time type : 650
ASRS Report	502970
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot inflight encounter : turbulence inflight encounter other non adherence : clearance non adherence : company policies non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment : altitude alert other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : returned to assigned altitude none taken : detected after the fact
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Weather Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

ATC cleared us for a descent to FL190. We noticed the altitude deviation at FL183 and immediately corrected. ATC said nothing. First officer flying, captain doing checklist. Supplemental information from acn 502970: ATC cleared our aircraft to descend to FL190. We were in and out of WX and were distraction by the aircraft anti-ice and deviated to FL184. Corrected immediately. ATC said nothing and immediately cleared us to descend to 11000 ft. No apparent conflict. Neither of us remember hearing the awi aural warning which is our usual pavlovian warning to reduce rate of climb/descent. Did not seem to be task saturated, but was momentarily distraction.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: DC9-30 CREW HAD ALT OVERSHOOT IN ZME CLASS A AIRSPACE.

Narrative: ATC CLRED US FOR A DSCNT TO FL190. WE NOTICED THE ALTDEV AT FL183 AND IMMEDIATELY CORRECTED. ATC SAID NOTHING. FO FLYING, CAPT DOING CHKLIST. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 502970: ATC CLRED OUR ACFT TO DSND TO FL190. WE WERE IN AND OUT OF WX AND WERE DISTR BY THE ACFT ANTI-ICE AND DEVIATED TO FL184. CORRECTED IMMEDIATELY. ATC SAID NOTHING AND IMMEDIATELY CLRED US TO DSND TO 11000 FT. NO APPARENT CONFLICT. NEITHER OF US REMEMBER HEARING THE AWI AURAL WARNING WHICH IS OUR USUAL PAVLOVIAN WARNING TO REDUCE RATE OF CLB/DSCNT. DID NOT SEEM TO BE TASK SATURATED, BUT WAS MOMENTARILY DISTR.

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.