A B777 crew overshot assigned leveloff altitude.

Attributes
ACN	519481
Time
Date	200107
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : sln.vortac
State Reference	KS
Altitude	msl bound lower : 33000 msl bound upper : 34000
Environment
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B777 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise : enroute altitude change
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time type : 415
ASRS Report	519481
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance non adherence : company policies non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to assigned altitude
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

We experienced an altitude deviation/loss of separation with ZKC at FL340 after departing den. We had been delayed several hours and reassigned, so fatigue may have been a factor. Apparently, after a long hold down at FL270, we were cleared to FL330. We apparently read this back correctly, but missed the MCP to FL340. Our SOP in this case failed to discover the error. The controller asked us to verify our altitude as FL330. We were then level at FL340 with FL340 in the MCP. ATC directed an immediate descent to FL330. We complied, but a loss of separation was recorded. We had no TCASII indications. It is important to note that my innate awareness of improper directional flight level has been lessened with the advent of rvsm and flts east or west at all altitudes with 1000 ft separation. This just increases the necessity of strict cockpit discipline and adherence to SOP. In this incident, I was the PNF and I missed the MCP, the first officer failed to catch my error.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B777 CREW OVERSHOT ASSIGNED LEVELOFF ALT.

Narrative: WE EXPERIENCED AN ALT DEV/LOSS OF SEPARATION WITH ZKC AT FL340 AFTER DEPARTING DEN. WE HAD BEEN DELAYED SEVERAL HRS AND REASSIGNED, SO FATIGUE MAY HAVE BEEN A FACTOR. APPARENTLY, AFTER A LONG HOLD DOWN AT FL270, WE WERE CLRED TO FL330. WE APPARENTLY READ THIS BACK CORRECTLY, BUT MISSED THE MCP TO FL340. OUR SOP IN THIS CASE FAILED TO DISCOVER THE ERROR. THE CTLR ASKED US TO VERIFY OUR ALT AS FL330. WE WERE THEN LEVEL AT FL340 WITH FL340 IN THE MCP. ATC DIRECTED AN IMMEDIATE DSCNT TO FL330. WE COMPLIED, BUT A LOSS OF SEPARATION WAS RECORDED. WE HAD NO TCASII INDICATIONS. IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT MY INNATE AWARENESS OF IMPROPER DIRECTIONAL FLT LEVEL HAS BEEN LESSENED WITH THE ADVENT OF RVSM AND FLTS E OR W AT ALL ALTS WITH 1000 FT SEPARATION. THIS JUST INCREASES THE NECESSITY OF STRICT COCKPIT DISCIPLINE AND ADHERENCE TO SOP. IN THIS INCIDENT, I WAS THE PNF AND I MISSED THE MCP, THE FO FAILED TO CATCH MY 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.