When cleared by toronto center to descend to 11;000 MSL on their cleared route the us based flight c...

Attributes
ACN	1047980
Time
Date	201211
Local Time Of Day	1201-1800
Place
Locale Reference	CZYZ.ARTCC
State Reference	ON
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Descent
Route In Use	STAR YWT4
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Pilot Not Flying Captain
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 240 Flight Crew Total 20000 Flight Crew Type 1800
Person 2
Function	Pilot Flying First Officer
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 90 Flight Crew Total 16000 Flight Crew Type 5000
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types Deviation - Altitude Crossing Restriction Not Met Deviation - Altitude Overshoot Deviation - Procedural Clearance Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy

Narrative:

During our descent; we were cleared direct rokto and a descent to 11;000 ft. As we passed rokto at 13;800 ft ATC called and said there was an altitude restriction at rokto between 16;000 ft and 14;000 ft. We were initially filed for the YWT4 arrival to cyyz; but had not been cleared for the arrival. We assumed our descent clearance was a stand alone clearance to 11;000 ft and not part of the arrival; and since we weren't cleared to 'descend via' we thought we were fine. Toronto center advised us that canadian procedures do not use [the 'descend via' phrase]. He further stated that it was no problem as there was no other traffic in the area. We then accomplished a normal descent; approach; and landing to runway 24L. We had pre-briefed the altitude restrictions and compliance prior to top of descent; but the clearance below the first restriction coupled with not being verbally cleared for the arrival lulled us into this mistake.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: When cleared by Toronto Center to descend to 11;000 MSL on their cleared route the US based flight crew was unaware the clearance required them to meet the crossing restrictions on their filed arrival. As a result they crossed ROKTO 100 feet low.

Narrative: During our descent; we were cleared direct ROKTO and a descent to 11;000 FT. As we passed ROKTO at 13;800 FT ATC called and said there was an altitude restriction at ROKTO between 16;000 FT and 14;000 FT. We were initially filed for the YWT4 arrival to CYYZ; but had not been cleared for the arrival. We assumed our descent clearance was a stand alone clearance to 11;000 FT and not part of the arrival; and since we weren't cleared to 'descend via' we thought we were fine. Toronto Center advised us that Canadian procedures do not use [the 'descend via' phrase]. He further stated that it was no problem as there was no other traffic in the area. We then accomplished a normal descent; approach; and landing to Runway 24L. We had pre-briefed the altitude restrictions and compliance prior to top of descent; but the clearance below the first restriction coupled with not being verbally cleared for the arrival lulled us into this mistake.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2013 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.

When cleared by toronto center to descend to 11;000 MSL on their cleared route the us based flight crew was unaware the clearance required them to meet the crossing restrictions on their filed arrival. As a result they crossed rokto 100 feet low.