MD-82
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Human-Machine Interface; Situational Awareness
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance
Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert; Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Executed Go Around / Missed Approach; General Declared Emergency; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft; Human Factors
After go around for anti skid failure caution an emergency was declared. On an intercept but not yet cleared for approach ATC had kept us high to go over traffic. I selected ILS with autopilot engaged. We were cleared to descend to 4;000 however glideslope captured and descended to 3;550. Both pilots were looking for the traffic that ATC was calling. We then noticed altitude deviation and ATC called at the same time. We were then simultaneously cleared for the approach.
While on radar vectors for a visual approach the ILS mode was selected prior to approach clearance. The aircraft captured the glide slope and deviated from the clearance altitude. Pilot flying and pilot not flying were both looking outside for traffic called by ATC and missed the altitude change until the aircraft had deviated as much as 400 FT.I will make a better effort to monitor mode control panel selections when acting as pilot not flying. When acting as pilot flying I will verbalize my MCP selections to the pilot not flying; at least during high workload situations; to facilitate his/her monitoring duties.
An MD80 flight crew; during an approach following a go around for an antiskid failure caution; armed the ILS for approach before receiving clearance. An altitude excursion was the result.