During descent, crossing restriction not met for crew of large transport.

Attributes
ACN	117749
Time
Date	198907
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : abe
State Reference	PA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 18000 msl bound upper : 22000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	arrival star : star enroute airway : j146
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 7500 flight time type : 750
ASRS Report	117749
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : second officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : flight engineer pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 4000 flight time type : 900
ASRS Report	117340
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met altitude deviation : undershoot non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

While on milton 5 arrival to lga, we were given a crossing restriction of 30 west of allentown VOR at FL180. I read back clearance and set the altitude in the altitude alerter. I then noted that we had at least 20 mi or more before we needed to start down depending on what rate of descent the captain planned to use. The crew then started discussing a non-aviation related matter. We were then given a handoff to a new controller. Upon establishing contact, the new controller gave us a clearance to FL180 with our best rate down. All 3 of us in the flight deck crew had forgotten the crossing restriction. The captain initiated a descent at a high rate. Then the controller gave us a clearance to cross 5 west of allentown at 13000' (a normal clearance marked on the STAR). We made this restriction with no problem, however we had missed the previous one by approximately 10 mi. To my understanding, the clearance of 'descend to FL180 now, best rate down,' rescinded the first crossing restriction. However, we made a lot of work for ourselves by forgetting to start down early enough.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: DURING DESCENT, CROSSING RESTRICTION NOT MET FOR CREW OF LGT.

Narrative: WHILE ON MILTON 5 ARR TO LGA, WE WERE GIVEN A XING RESTRICTION OF 30 W OF ALLENTOWN VOR AT FL180. I READ BACK CLRNC AND SET THE ALT IN THE ALT ALERTER. I THEN NOTED THAT WE HAD AT LEAST 20 MI OR MORE BEFORE WE NEEDED TO START DOWN DEPENDING ON WHAT RATE OF DSCNT THE CAPT PLANNED TO USE. THE CREW THEN STARTED DISCUSSING A NON-AVIATION RELATED MATTER. WE WERE THEN GIVEN A HDOF TO A NEW CTLR. UPON ESTABLISHING CONTACT, THE NEW CTLR GAVE US A CLRNC TO FL180 WITH OUR BEST RATE DOWN. ALL 3 OF US IN THE FLT DECK CREW HAD FORGOTTEN THE XING RESTRICTION. THE CAPT INITIATED A DSCNT AT A HIGH RATE. THEN THE CTLR GAVE US A CLRNC TO CROSS 5 W OF ALLENTOWN AT 13000' (A NORMAL CLRNC MARKED ON THE STAR). WE MADE THIS RESTRICTION WITH NO PROB, HOWEVER WE HAD MISSED THE PREVIOUS ONE BY APPROX 10 MI. TO MY UNDERSTANDING, THE CLRNC OF 'DSND TO FL180 NOW, BEST RATE DOWN,' RESCINDED THE FIRST XING RESTRICTION. HOWEVER, WE MADE A LOT OF WORK FOR OURSELVES BY FORGETTING TO START DOWN EARLY 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.