<< >> NASA ASRS Report 755790, September 2007

BE40 first officer descends below assigned altitude after being offered runway 14 instead of runway 32 at frg in day visual conditions.

Attributes
ACN	755790
Time
Date	200709
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : frg.airport
State Reference	NY
Altitude	msl single value : 1600
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : n90.tracon
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Beechjet 400
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : corporate
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 85 flight time total : 2227 flight time type : 260
ASRS Report	755790
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued advisory flight crew : returned to assigned altitude
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

Possible descent below assigned altitude prior to being cleared for visual approach. I had allowed the airplane to descend from the approach controller's assigned altitude. I believe it was not more than 300 ft prior to being advised by ATC. I immediately returned to the assigned altitude; and then reported the airport in sight. We had been given the option to change the landing runway to runway 14 after briefing and expecting to land on runway 32. The reason for this was the winds had changed to calm. I believe the added workload of switching runways caused me to become distracted. I had discussed this at length with the PIC and will in the future request a delaying vector; or remain with the original runway if the change is offered only for our convenience.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: BE40 FO DSNDS BELOW ASSIGNED ALTITUDE AFTER BEING OFFERED RWY 14 INSTEAD OF RWY 32 AT FRG IN DAY VISUAL CONDITIONS.

Narrative: POSSIBLE DSCNT BELOW ASSIGNED ALTITUDE PRIOR TO BEING CLRED FOR VISUAL APCH. I HAD ALLOWED THE AIRPLANE TO DSND FROM THE APCH CTLR'S ASSIGNED ALTITUDE. I BELIEVE IT WAS NOT MORE THAN 300 FT PRIOR TO BEING ADVISED BY ATC. I IMMEDIATELY RETURNED TO THE ASSIGNED ALTITUDE; AND THEN RPTED THE ARPT IN SIGHT. WE HAD BEEN GIVEN THE OPTION TO CHANGE THE LNDG RWY TO RWY 14 AFTER BRIEFING AND EXPECTING TO LAND ON RWY 32. THE REASON FOR THIS WAS THE WINDS HAD CHANGED TO CALM. I BELIEVE THE ADDED WORKLOAD OF SWITCHING RWYS CAUSED ME TO BECOME DISTRACTED. I HAD DISCUSSED THIS AT LENGTH WITH THE PIC AND WILL IN THE FUTURE REQUEST A DELAYING VECTOR; OR REMAIN WITH THE ORIGINAL RWY IF THE CHANGE IS OFFERED ONLY FOR OUR CONVENIENCE.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.