Flight crew of cpr light transport missed crossing restriction.

Attributes
ACN	169194
Time
Date	199101
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : hdf
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 14000 msl bound upper : 16000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zla tower : dtw
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Light Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	descent other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 120 flight time total : 10100 flight time type : 60
ASRS Report	169194
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : atp pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 10000 flight time type : 3000
ASRS Report	169356
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met altitude deviation : undershoot non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

In the vicinity of 29 palms, center cleared us direct to homeland VOR and to cross 20 east of it at 14000'. Hdf was tuned into the VOR and I turned direct to it and descended. Hdf has no DME, so the coordinates of hdf were put in the vlfirst officermega and checked by both pilots. VLF bearing agreed with VOR. To further verify VLF operation, #2 VOR/DME was set on tnp and compared to VLF bearing/distance with tnp coordinates selected. There appeared to be a disagreement of only 1 mi. The VLF was selected back to the hdf coordinates and progress of the descend was monitored by both crew members. We were satisfied we would comply with the restriction based on VLF distance to hdf. At idle, passing 16000', descending at 4000 FPM and showing 27 mi to hdf, center asked us our altitude. Upon replying, center informed us that we were at 20 mi point and too high. We are having the vlfirst officermega checked, however, we were never trust it for this critical information again. This could have been avoided if DME was installed at VOR's which center puts mileage crossing restrictions on, or publishing the fixes with means of identing them such as crossing radials.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLT CREW OF CPR LTT MISSED CROSSING RESTRICTION.

Narrative: IN THE VICINITY OF 29 PALMS, CENTER CLRED US DIRECT TO HOMELAND VOR AND TO CROSS 20 E OF IT AT 14000'. HDF WAS TUNED INTO THE VOR AND I TURNED DIRECT TO IT AND DSNDED. HDF HAS NO DME, SO THE COORDINATES OF HDF WERE PUT IN THE VLF/OMEGA AND CHKED BY BOTH PLTS. VLF BEARING AGREED WITH VOR. TO FURTHER VERIFY VLF OPERATION, #2 VOR/DME WAS SET ON TNP AND COMPARED TO VLF BEARING/DISTANCE WITH TNP COORDINATES SELECTED. THERE APPEARED TO BE A DISAGREEMENT OF ONLY 1 MI. THE VLF WAS SELECTED BACK TO THE HDF COORDINATES AND PROGRESS OF THE DSND WAS MONITORED BY BOTH CREW MEMBERS. WE WERE SATISFIED WE WOULD COMPLY WITH THE RESTRICTION BASED ON VLF DISTANCE TO HDF. AT IDLE, PASSING 16000', DSNDING AT 4000 FPM AND SHOWING 27 MI TO HDF, CENTER ASKED US OUR ALT. UPON REPLYING, CENTER INFORMED US THAT WE WERE AT 20 MI POINT AND TOO HIGH. WE ARE HAVING THE VLF/OMEGA CHKED, HOWEVER, WE WERE NEVER TRUST IT FOR THIS CRITICAL INFO AGAIN. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED IF DME WAS INSTALLED AT VOR'S WHICH CENTER PUTS MILEAGE XING RESTRICTIONS ON, OR PUBLISHING THE FIXES WITH MEANS OF IDENTING THEM SUCH AS XING RADIALS.

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.