Narrative:

Sometime after passing ffu VOR to intercept and proceed inbound on slc R-159, we were cleared for ILS approach to runway 34L. I had programmed the approach into the fme (I thought) and was monitoring the approach progress on the legs page. After passing lufco, approach control asked what our altitude was. First officer reported it at 7400'. Approach then said we were supposed to maintain 9000' until passing lufco; and then said maintain 7000' until intercepting G/south which I did. Remainder of approach and landing routine. I have programmed approachs into the FMC many times and find it to be a valuable backup; however, for reasons unknown, I neglected to enter the 9000' altitude for lufco and didn't catch the error until the query from approach. I was led down the primrose path relying too heavily on the normally reliable programmed FMC computer, great as long as correct. While I will accept most of the blame for this event, I believe my first officer and approach should bear a certain amount also. What was the first officer doing that he didn't bring this to my attention, we weren't that busy. And approach should consider clearance for the approach to read: '...(call sign)...cleared for the 34L ILS. Maintain 9000' until passing lufco.', especially since clearance was issued before we reached lufco which would have reinforced that crossing altitude.

Related reports:

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR DESCENDS BELOW PUBLISHED ALT ON APCH.

Narrative: SOMETIME AFTER PASSING FFU VOR TO INTERCEPT AND PROCEED INBND ON SLC R-159, WE WERE CLRED FOR ILS APCH TO RWY 34L. I HAD PROGRAMMED THE APCH INTO THE FME (I THOUGHT) AND WAS MONITORING THE APCH PROGRESS ON THE LEGS PAGE. AFTER PASSING LUFCO, APCH CTL ASKED WHAT OUR ALT WAS. F/O RPTED IT AT 7400'. APCH THEN SAID WE WERE SUPPOSED TO MAINTAIN 9000' UNTIL PASSING LUFCO; AND THEN SAID MAINTAIN 7000' UNTIL INTERCEPTING G/S WHICH I DID. REMAINDER OF APCH AND LNDG ROUTINE. I HAVE PROGRAMMED APCHS INTO THE FMC MANY TIMES AND FIND IT TO BE A VALUABLE BACKUP; HOWEVER, FOR REASONS UNKNOWN, I NEGLECTED TO ENTER THE 9000' ALT FOR LUFCO AND DIDN'T CATCH THE ERROR UNTIL THE QUERY FROM APCH. I WAS LED DOWN THE PRIMROSE PATH RELYING TOO HEAVILY ON THE NORMALLY RELIABLE PROGRAMMED FMC COMPUTER, GREAT AS LONG AS CORRECT. WHILE I WILL ACCEPT MOST OF THE BLAME FOR THIS EVENT, I BELIEVE MY F/O AND APCH SHOULD BEAR A CERTAIN AMOUNT ALSO. WHAT WAS THE F/O DOING THAT HE DIDN'T BRING THIS TO MY ATTN, WE WEREN'T THAT BUSY. AND APCH SHOULD CONSIDER CLRNC FOR THE APCH TO READ: '...(CALL SIGN)...CLRED FOR THE 34L ILS. MAINTAIN 9000' UNTIL PASSING LUFCO.', ESPECIALLY SINCE CLRNC WAS ISSUED BEFORE WE REACHED LUFCO WHICH WOULD HAVE REINFORCED THAT XING ALT.

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.