Air carrier large transport overshot altitude on descent.

Attributes
ACN	88733
Time
Date	198806
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : crp
State Reference	TX
Altitude	msl bound lower : 10500 msl bound upper : 11000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zhu artcc : zdc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	arrival other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : atp pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 60 flight time total : 5000 flight time type : 65
ASRS Report	88733
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 300 flight time total : 10000 flight time type : 2800
ASRS Report	88741
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation other

Narrative:

We were cleared to descend from FL260 to 11000' (be at 11000' 30 NM northeast corpus VOR). The clearance was given approximately 55 NM northeast of the station which required a very high descent rate to reach the crossing altitude (5-6000/ min) adding to the problem was an unusual confign of the aircraft autoplt. I have never seen the type before and was unfamiliar with the operation. The rate of descent was not enough and then became too much (for a rate of level off providing passenger comfort). I disconnected the autoplt at 12000 and pulled about 2 1/2 G pullup to stop the descent. I overshot the altitude by 500' (down to 10500') and returned to 11000. This was accomplished at 31 NM northeast of the fix (1 mile prior to the restriction). Conclusion: had I had more time to make the descent I would not have overshot. Had the equipment in the aircraft been standard for our airline, I would have not overshot. Supplemental information from acn #88741: we were cleared to cross 30 mi northwest of crp at 11000'. First officer flying got behind on descent profile and overshot level off altitude, by 500'. Supplemental information from acn #88893: the copilot tried to overcome the excessive rate of descent using the autoplt which wasn't responsive enough.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR LGT OVERSHOT ALT ON DESCENT.

Narrative: WE WERE CLRED TO DESCEND FROM FL260 TO 11000' (BE AT 11000' 30 NM NE CORPUS VOR). THE CLRNC WAS GIVEN APPROX 55 NM NE OF THE STATION WHICH REQUIRED A VERY HIGH DESCENT RATE TO REACH THE XING ALT (5-6000/ MIN) ADDING TO THE PROBLEM WAS AN UNUSUAL CONFIGN OF THE ACFT AUTOPLT. I HAVE NEVER SEEN THE TYPE BEFORE AND WAS UNFAMILIAR WITH THE OPERATION. THE RATE OF DESCENT WAS NOT ENOUGH AND THEN BECAME TOO MUCH (FOR A RATE OF LEVEL OFF PROVIDING PAX COMFORT). I DISCONNECTED THE AUTOPLT AT 12000 AND PULLED ABOUT 2 1/2 G PULLUP TO STOP THE DESCENT. I OVERSHOT THE ALT BY 500' (DOWN TO 10500') AND RETURNED TO 11000. THIS WAS ACCOMPLISHED AT 31 NM NE OF THE FIX (1 MILE PRIOR TO THE RESTRICTION). CONCLUSION: HAD I HAD MORE TIME TO MAKE THE DESCENT I WOULD NOT HAVE OVERSHOT. HAD THE EQUIPMENT IN THE ACFT BEEN STANDARD FOR OUR AIRLINE, I WOULD HAVE NOT OVERSHOT. SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION FROM ACN #88741: WE WERE CLRED TO CROSS 30 MI NW OF CRP AT 11000'. F/O FLYING GOT BEHIND ON DESCENT PROFILE AND OVERSHOT LEVEL OFF ALT, BY 500'. SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION FROM ACN #88893: THE COPLT TRIED TO OVERCOME THE EXCESSIVE RATE OF DESCENT USING THE AUTOPLT WHICH WASN'T RESPONSIVE ENOUGH.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 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.