<< >> NASA ASRS Report 515360, June 2001

As ZAU issues a new altitude clearance within 600 ft of the altitude assigned, the descending A320 captain advises that an altitude overshot was required.

Attributes
ACN	515360
Time
Date	200106
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	0001 To 0600
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : zoa.artcc
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl single value : 23000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	A320
Flight Phase	descent : intermediate 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 : 95 flight time total : 13000 flight time type : 35
ASRS Report	515360
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : published procedure
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : returned to assigned altitude flight crew : overrode automation
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft Flight Crew Human Performance ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance

Narrative:

Descending from FL350 to FL210, given an assigned speed of 320 KTS. I was descending using the autoplt and had a vertical speed of 2500 FPM. Passing FL236, we were given an amended altitude of FL230. The autoplt captured the altitude, but we descended below FL230. I pushed the vertical speed to zero and began a 2000 FPM climb back to FL230. Center asked about an altitude and the first officer said we were going FL230. We leveled and told the controller that the amended clearance was late and we descended below FL230. Even though the new clearance came late, I should have turned off the autoplt and flown back to the altitude.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AS ZAU ISSUES A NEW ALT CLRNC WITHIN 600 FT OF THE ALT ASSIGNED, THE DSNDING A320 CAPT ADVISES THAT AN ALT OVERSHOT WAS REQUIRED.

Narrative: DSNDING FROM FL350 TO FL210, GIVEN AN ASSIGNED SPD OF 320 KTS. I WAS DSNDING USING THE AUTOPLT AND HAD A VERT SPD OF 2500 FPM. PASSING FL236, WE WERE GIVEN AN AMENDED ALT OF FL230. THE AUTOPLT CAPTURED THE ALT, BUT WE DSNDED BELOW FL230. I PUSHED THE VERT SPD TO ZERO AND BEGAN A 2000 FPM CLB BACK TO FL230. CTR ASKED ABOUT AN ALT AND THE FO SAID WE WERE GOING FL230. WE LEVELED AND TOLD THE CTLR THAT THE AMENDED CLRNC WAS LATE AND WE DSNDED BELOW FL230. EVEN THOUGH THE NEW CLRNC CAME LATE, I SHOULD HAVE TURNED OFF THE AUTOPLT AND FLOWN BACK TO THE ALT.

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.