DC9-30 crew had an altitude deviation in ZMA class a airspace.

Attributes
ACN	575123
Time
Date	200302
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
State Reference	FL
Altitude	msl single value : 25000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zma.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	DC-9 30
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	arrival star : llake
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zma.artcc
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 14000 flight time type : 11000
ASRS Report	575123
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 222 flight time total : 11000 flight time type : 6000
ASRS Report	574725
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met altitude deviation : undershoot conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure non adherence : company policies
Independent Detector	atc equipment other atc equipment : radar other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued alert flight crew : returned to assigned altitude
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

While on the LLAK3 arrival to pbi, ZMA cleared us to FL240 then to FL250. 80 mi south of cty, we informed ZMA that we could not receive gnv VOR. Mia gave us a heading of 170 degrees. ZMA then aid 'aircraft X, fly 170 for llake. Cleared LLAK3 arrival.' I had read the LLAK3 arrival twice, before the center clearance. The arrival page was placed on the yoke clipboard in front of me. Apparently, I misread the arrival. I was thinking that the 10000 ft crossing was at llake rather than at ullmn intersection. I also misread the 'expect clearance' as a clearance to cross at 10000 ft. We were high on the descent profile due to the unknown wbound traffic at FL240. When I heard the llake 3 arrival clearance, I started my descent without looking at the altitude alerter. I stopped my descent at FL244. The first officer noticed my mistake along with the alerter beeping and I returned to FL250. Mia then pointed out our traffic at FL240, 1:30 O'clock position, 1 1/2 mi. I don't know what I was thinking. I had it set in my mind to start down -- always. PNF: set the alter, PF: point the finger, PF: push the yoke. Supplemental information from acn 574725: may have still had FL240 'on the brain' even after ATC amended that descent clearance to FL250 almost simultaneously with the vector to intercept the llakes arrival. Classic set-up!

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: DC9-30 CREW HAD AN ALTDEV IN ZMA CLASS A AIRSPACE.

Narrative: WHILE ON THE LLAK3 ARR TO PBI, ZMA CLRED US TO FL240 THEN TO FL250. 80 MI S OF CTY, WE INFORMED ZMA THAT WE COULD NOT RECEIVE GNV VOR. MIA GAVE US A HDG OF 170 DEGS. ZMA THEN AID 'ACFT X, FLY 170 FOR LLAKE. CLRED LLAK3 ARR.' I HAD READ THE LLAK3 ARR TWICE, BEFORE THE CTR CLRNC. THE ARR PAGE WAS PLACED ON THE YOKE CLIPBOARD IN FRONT OF ME. APPARENTLY, I MISREAD THE ARR. I WAS THINKING THAT THE 10000 FT XING WAS AT LLAKE RATHER THAN AT ULLMN INTXN. I ALSO MISREAD THE 'EXPECT CLRNC' AS A CLRNC TO CROSS AT 10000 FT. WE WERE HIGH ON THE DSCNT PROFILE DUE TO THE UNKNOWN WBOUND TFC AT FL240. WHEN I HEARD THE LLAKE 3 ARR CLRNC, I STARTED MY DSCNT WITHOUT LOOKING AT THE ALT ALERTER. I STOPPED MY DSCNT AT FL244. THE FO NOTICED MY MISTAKE ALONG WITH THE ALERTER BEEPING AND I RETURNED TO FL250. MIA THEN POINTED OUT OUR TFC AT FL240, 1:30 O'CLOCK POS, 1 1/2 MI. I DON'T KNOW WHAT I WAS THINKING. I HAD IT SET IN MY MIND TO START DOWN -- ALWAYS. PNF: SET THE ALTER, PF: POINT THE FINGER, PF: PUSH THE YOKE. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 574725: MAY HAVE STILL HAD FL240 'ON THE BRAIN' EVEN AFTER ATC AMENDED THAT DSCNT CLRNC TO FL250 ALMOST SIMULTANEOUSLY WITH THE VECTOR TO INTERCEPT THE LLAKES ARR. CLASSIC SET-UP!

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.