Medium large transport flight cleared X tonto intersection 12000' crossed at 13300'.

Attributes
ACN	171996
Time
Date	199103
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : phx
State Reference	AZ
Altitude	msl bound lower : 12000 msl bound upper : 13300
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	arrival other arrival star : star enroute airway : zab
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 190 flight time total : 6600 flight time type : 4355
ASRS Report	171996
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : undershoot non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

While inbound phx on a STAR, we were cleared to cross 'tonto' intersection a 12000 and 250 KTS. Using our FMC we were on a profile to cross tonto as required. Our speed was 295 KIAS. Passing about FL200 we were asked to slow to 250 KIAS. The captain reduced the descent rate to slow the aircraft thereby projecting the aircraft over tonto too high. I mentioned the fact to the captain that we would be too high. He made no extra effort (ie, spdbrakes) to ensure we made the crossing restriction. 'It's their (ctrs) fault.' we xed tonto at 13300'. This is common for ATC to reduce airspeed during a descent with a crossing restriction. It is also common for pilots to be frustrated to the point of ignoring a potentially unsafe circumstance.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MLG FLT CLEARED X TONTO INTERSECTION 12000' CROSSED AT 13300'.

Narrative: WHILE INBND PHX ON A STAR, WE WERE CLRED TO CROSS 'TONTO' INTXN A 12000 AND 250 KTS. USING OUR FMC WE WERE ON A PROFILE TO CROSS TONTO AS REQUIRED. OUR SPD WAS 295 KIAS. PASSING ABOUT FL200 WE WERE ASKED TO SLOW TO 250 KIAS. THE CAPT REDUCED THE DSNT RATE TO SLOW THE ACFT THEREBY PROJECTING THE ACFT OVER TONTO TOO HIGH. I MENTIONED THE FACT TO THE CAPT THAT WE WOULD BE TOO HIGH. HE MADE NO EXTRA EFFORT (IE, SPDBRAKES) TO ENSURE WE MADE THE XING RESTRICTION. 'IT'S THEIR (CTRS) FAULT.' WE XED TONTO AT 13300'. THIS IS COMMON FOR ATC TO REDUCE AIRSPD DURING A DSNT WITH A XING RESTRICTION. IT IS ALSO COMMON FOR PLTS TO BE FRUSTRATED TO THE POINT OF IGNORING A POTENTIALLY UNSAFE CIRCUMSTANCE.

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.