Crossing restriction missed.

Attributes
ACN	160075
Time
Date	199010
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : fim
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 12500 msl bound upper : 14000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zla
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	arrival star : star enroute airway : zla
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 10000 flight time type : 3000
ASRS Report	160075
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was given a clearance to cross merma at 14000 then maintain 6000 after crossing tandy. Upon reaching 14000 several miles before merma, 6000 was set in the altitude alert. Upon passing merma, and seeing 6000 in altitude alert, commenced a descent. Realized error at approximately 12500 and leveled off. Contributing factor was this was the first leg flown after 5 weeks off for vacation. Main problem would appear to be use of the altitude alert as a reminder of further clearance rather than as actual altitude cleared to. In future, will wait until passed limiting point until setting new altitude. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following: reporter participated in the boeing study. Company has initiate a new procedure to keep both pilots more altitude aware.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CROSSING RESTRICTION MISSED.

Narrative: I WAS GIVEN A CLRNC TO CROSS MERMA AT 14000 THEN MAINTAIN 6000 AFTER XING TANDY. UPON REACHING 14000 SEVERAL MILES BEFORE MERMA, 6000 WAS SET IN THE ALT ALERT. UPON PASSING MERMA, AND SEEING 6000 IN ALT ALERT, COMMENCED A DSNT. REALIZED ERROR AT APPROX 12500 AND LEVELED OFF. CONTRIBUTING FACTOR WAS THIS WAS THE FIRST LEG FLOWN AFTER 5 WEEKS OFF FOR VACATION. MAIN PROB WOULD APPEAR TO BE USE OF THE ALT ALERT AS A REMINDER OF FURTHER CLRNC RATHER THAN AS ACTUAL ALT CLRED TO. IN FUTURE, WILL WAIT UNTIL PASSED LIMITING POINT UNTIL SETTING NEW ALT. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH REPORTER REVEALED THE FOLLOWING: RPTR PARTICIPATED IN THE BOEING STUDY. COMPANY HAS INITIATE A NEW PROC TO KEEP BOTH PLTS MORE ALT AWARE.

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.