B737 flight crew has altitude deviation during approach to den.

Attributes
ACN	580827
Time
Date	200305
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : den.airport
State Reference	CO
Altitude	msl bound lower : 10700 msl bound upper : 11000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Marginal
Weather Elements	Turbulence
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : d01.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-300
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	descent : approach descent : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	tracon : d01.tracon
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : multi engine
ASRS Report	580827
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
ASRS Report	580940
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot conflict : airborne critical non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment : tcas other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	controller : issued advisory flight crew : took evasive action
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

On descent into den, cleared direct den VOR to maintain 11000 ft -- expecting vectors to land runway 17R. Traffic departing runway 17L caused an RA forcing a level off at 11400 ft. Once clear of conflict, captain continued descent (non-autoflt) to 11000 ft. We were told to expect runway 7. I advised approach of the RA, and they responded ok, but questioned me about our current altitude. When I looked up, the captain was still in a descent, and we were indicating 10700 ft. Approach re-emphasized we were cleared to 11000 ft and switched us to the next controller. In retrospect, non-use of autoflt, coupled with a change in runway assignment, and an RA distraction us from the primary responsibility of 'fly the aircraft first,' resulting in a momentary altitude deviation. As a PNF, I should have been more aware of the level off prior to busying myself with setting up for runway 7.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737 FLT CREW HAS ALTDEV DURING APCH TO DEN.

Narrative: ON DSCNT INTO DEN, CLRED DIRECT DEN VOR TO MAINTAIN 11000 FT -- EXPECTING VECTORS TO LAND RWY 17R. TFC DEPARTING RWY 17L CAUSED AN RA FORCING A LEVEL OFF AT 11400 FT. ONCE CLR OF CONFLICT, CAPT CONTINUED DSCNT (NON-AUTOFLT) TO 11000 FT. WE WERE TOLD TO EXPECT RWY 7. I ADVISED APCH OF THE RA, AND THEY RESPONDED OK, BUT QUESTIONED ME ABOUT OUR CURRENT ALT. WHEN I LOOKED UP, THE CAPT WAS STILL IN A DSCNT, AND WE WERE INDICATING 10700 FT. APCH RE-EMPHASIZED WE WERE CLRED TO 11000 FT AND SWITCHED US TO THE NEXT CTLR. IN RETROSPECT, NON-USE OF AUTOFLT, COUPLED WITH A CHANGE IN RWY ASSIGNMENT, AND AN RA DISTR US FROM THE PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY OF 'FLY THE ACFT FIRST,' RESULTING IN A MOMENTARY ALTDEV. AS A PNF, I SHOULD HAVE BEEN MORE AWARE OF THE LEVEL OFF PRIOR TO BUSYING MYSELF WITH SETTING UP FOR RWY 7.

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.