Air carrier medium large transport altitude deviation crossing restriction not met.

Attributes
ACN	148660
Time
Date	199006
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : las
State Reference	NV
Altitude	msl bound lower : 13000 msl bound upper : 15000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zla
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other descent other
Route In Use	arrival star : star
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 250 flight time total : 11000 flight time type : 8800
ASRS Report	148660
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met altitude deviation : undershoot
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance none taken : unable none taken : insufficient time
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

After several attempts to instruct us to cross whigg at 13000'/250 KTS, we finally acknowledged the instructions. (Center apparently attempted 3 times, each time was covered/and/or blocked by other xmissions). By this time we were too high to meet the restriction and attempted to contact center to let them know. However, center was too busy and finally they contacted us at 15000' to turn right to 060 degrees to 'spin' us out. Congestion on radios plus the fact that instructions were given too late (ie we were high) contributed to this missed crossing restriction. I believe center was too busy and simply got to us too late to make a normal descent to 13000'.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR MLG ALT DEVIATION CROSSING RESTRICTION NOT MET.

Narrative: AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO INSTRUCT US TO CROSS WHIGG AT 13000'/250 KTS, WE FINALLY ACKNOWLEDGED THE INSTRUCTIONS. (CTR APPARENTLY ATTEMPTED 3 TIMES, EACH TIME WAS COVERED/AND/OR BLOCKED BY OTHER XMISSIONS). BY THIS TIME WE WERE TOO HIGH TO MEET THE RESTRICTION AND ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT CTR TO LET THEM KNOW. HOWEVER, CTR WAS TOO BUSY AND FINALLY THEY CONTACTED US AT 15000' TO TURN R TO 060 DEGS TO 'SPIN' US OUT. CONGESTION ON RADIOS PLUS THE FACT THAT INSTRUCTIONS WERE GIVEN TOO LATE (IE WE WERE HIGH) CONTRIBUTED TO THIS MISSED XING RESTRICTION. I BELIEVE CTR WAS TOO BUSY AND SIMPLY GOT TO US TOO LATE TO MAKE A NORMAL DSNT TO 13000'.

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.