Failed to descend to make crossing restriction.

Attributes
ACN	133910
Time
Date	199001
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : omn
State Reference	FL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 31000 msl bound upper : 35000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zjx
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : instrument pilot : flight engineer pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 17000 flight time type : 1800
ASRS Report	133910
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

First officer was flying and I was doing the radio work. Given an ATC to cross 85 NM north of ormond beach at FL310. We were at FL350. Both the first officer and I heard and wrote the clearance down, and I set and armed 310 in the altitude window. We were talking about contract items and industry conditions just before this clearance issued, and about 125 mi north of ormond beach VOR at FL350. After clearance I don't recall any particular conversation--just looking at the clear coastline. The next thing I recalled was center telling us to start our descent 'now.' we were 79 NM north of ormond beach at this time (6 mi past the point would should have been at FL310). I should have backed up my first officer. We were both simply caught off-guard and lulled by the day and lack of ATC WX--we just blew it! I guess we must have been mulling over previous conversation items--I really don't know. I have no excuses and guess that we should not reflect upon industry matters in the cockpit!

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FAILED TO DESCEND TO MAKE CROSSING RESTRICTION.

Narrative: F/O WAS FLYING AND I WAS DOING THE RADIO WORK. GIVEN AN ATC TO CROSS 85 NM N OF ORMOND BEACH AT FL310. WE WERE AT FL350. BOTH THE F/O AND I HEARD AND WROTE THE CLRNC DOWN, AND I SET AND ARMED 310 IN THE ALT WINDOW. WE WERE TALKING ABOUT CONTRACT ITEMS AND INDUSTRY CONDITIONS JUST BEFORE THIS CLRNC ISSUED, AND ABOUT 125 MI N OF ORMOND BEACH VOR AT FL350. AFTER CLRNC I DON'T RECALL ANY PARTICULAR CONVERSATION--JUST LOOKING AT THE CLEAR COASTLINE. THE NEXT THING I RECALLED WAS CENTER TELLING US TO START OUR DSCNT 'NOW.' WE WERE 79 NM N OF ORMOND BEACH AT THIS TIME (6 MI PAST THE POINT WOULD SHOULD HAVE BEEN AT FL310). I SHOULD HAVE BACKED UP MY F/O. WE WERE BOTH SIMPLY CAUGHT OFF-GUARD AND LULLED BY THE DAY AND LACK OF ATC WX--WE JUST BLEW IT! I GUESS WE MUST HAVE BEEN MULLING OVER PREVIOUS CONVERSATION ITEMS--I REALLY DON'T KNOW. I HAVE NO EXCUSES AND GUESS THAT WE SHOULD NOT REFLECT UPON INDUSTRY MATTERS IN THE COCKPIT!

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