B737-800 crew had an altitude overshoot after setting the altitude alert to the least restr position...

Attributes
ACN	634096
Time
Date	200410
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	intersection : bessi
State Reference	NJ
Altitude	msl single value : 17000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zny.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-800
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	descent : approach descent : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	arrival star : korry
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
ASRS Report	634096
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met non adherence : published procedure non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : altimeters other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Cleared to descend via the KORRY3 arrival to lga, we initially planned to make the descent using VNAV and set the bottom of descent altitude in the altitude limiter window. VNAV profile was undesirable so we began the descent using vertical speed but mistakenly left the altitude select window set at the bottom of descent altitude. At the time we were approaching the bessi intersection with a crossing altitude of 17000 ft or above, we were just finishing up the approach briefing. I failed to notice we were going to cross the intersection below 17000 ft and we did in fact miss the restr. We leveled off until passing bessi then continued our descent. Failing to reset the altitude select window to an appropriate altitude for the selected vertical navigation mode and the distraction of the approach briefing both contributed to missing the crossing restr.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737-800 CREW HAD AN ALT OVERSHOOT AFTER SETTING THE ALT ALERT TO THE LEAST RESTR POS.

Narrative: CLRED TO DSND VIA THE KORRY3 ARR TO LGA, WE INITIALLY PLANNED TO MAKE THE DSCNT USING VNAV AND SET THE BOTTOM OF DSCNT ALT IN THE ALT LIMITER WINDOW. VNAV PROFILE WAS UNDESIRABLE SO WE BEGAN THE DSCNT USING VERT SPD BUT MISTAKENLY LEFT THE ALT SELECT WINDOW SET AT THE BOTTOM OF DSCNT ALT. AT THE TIME WE WERE APCHING THE BESSI INTXN WITH A XING ALT OF 17000 FT OR ABOVE, WE WERE JUST FINISHING UP THE APCH BRIEFING. I FAILED TO NOTICE WE WERE GOING TO CROSS THE INTXN BELOW 17000 FT AND WE DID IN FACT MISS THE RESTR. WE LEVELED OFF UNTIL PASSING BESSI THEN CONTINUED OUR DSCNT. FAILING TO RESET THE ALT SELECT WINDOW TO AN APPROPRIATE ALT FOR THE SELECTED VERT NAV MODE AND THE DISTR OF THE APCH BRIEFING BOTH CONTRIBUTED TO MISSING THE XING RESTR.

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.