Commuter flight crew does not observe sterile cockpit procedures.

Attributes
ACN	173707
Time
Date	199103
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : mem
State Reference	TN
Altitude	msl bound lower : 6000 msl bound upper : 7000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zme
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Transport
Flight Phase	descent : approach descent other
Route In Use	arrival other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 270 flight time total : 3500
ASRS Report	173707
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met non adherence : far non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	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:

Mem center assigned us 6000' at middy intersection. We were level at 8000'. Got sidetrack due to crew conversation, calling in range to company. When contacting mem approach at approximately 31 DME (mem) they said 'descend and maintain 6000'.' never questioned whether or not we had been previously given the crossing restriction. (Middy is 29 DME-mem). We descended to 6000' at 28 DME-mem. I believe this situation occurred because our cruise altitude was 8000' and we were accustomed to conversation and other activities along the route and were not observing a 'sterile cockpit' environment. Would suggest that in these flight circumstances where cruise altitude is less then 10000' that crews make a specific DME mileage their beginning for 'total concentration-sterile cockpit' procedures.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: COMMUTER FLT CREW DOES NOT OBSERVE STERILE COCKPIT PROCS.

Narrative: MEM CTR ASSIGNED US 6000' AT MIDDY INTXN. WE WERE LEVEL AT 8000'. GOT SIDETRACK DUE TO CREW CONVERSATION, CALLING IN RANGE TO COMPANY. WHEN CONTACTING MEM APCH AT APPROX 31 DME (MEM) THEY SAID 'DSND AND MAINTAIN 6000'.' NEVER QUESTIONED WHETHER OR NOT WE HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY GIVEN THE XING RESTRICTION. (MIDDY IS 29 DME-MEM). WE DSNDED TO 6000' AT 28 DME-MEM. I BELIEVE THIS SITUATION OCCURRED BECAUSE OUR CRUISE ALT WAS 8000' AND WE WERE ACCUSTOMED TO CONVERSATION AND OTHER ACTIVITIES ALONG THE RTE AND WERE NOT OBSERVING A 'STERILE COCKPIT' ENVIRONMENT. WOULD SUGGEST THAT IN THESE FLT CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE CRUISE ALT IS LESS THEN 10000' THAT CREWS MAKE A SPECIFIC DME MILEAGE THEIR BEGINNING FOR 'TOTAL CONCENTRATION-STERILE COCKPIT' PROCS.

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.