Air carrier captain reported not descending via the STAR due to selecting lvl change pitch instead o...

Narrative:

Before the TOD; we briefed the arrival and programmed the FMC to descend via the zzzzz RNAV STAR correctly. When we got clearance from ATC to descend via the STAR; I selected 4;000 feet in the MCP window as previously briefed. Somewhere below 10;000 feet; ATC gave us vectors off the STAR and to descend and maintain 5;000 feet. We complied. I selected 5;000 feet in MCP window; heading select and lvl change and informed the pm. Sometime later ATC gave us direct to zzzzz fix and descend via STAR. I programmed direct to zzzzz in the FMC; selected LNAV and set 4;000 feet in the MCP window as per the STAR. I informed the pm.we had a frequency change and the pm got a new ATIS at the same time as that was taking place. As we are approaching zzzzz fix; ATC confirmed that we were descending to 4;000 feet instead of crossing zzzzz fix at 5;000 feet. That's when I realized that we were in lvl change pitch and not in VNAV. As I was communicating that to the pm; ATC gave us a further descend and vectors for the final approach. The rest of the flight was uneventful. There were no TCAS TA or RA at any time. We debriefed the incident at the gate. I realized that due to recent events regarding the future of my flying career and the constant uncertainty has hindered my rest. This may have been a factor for my distraction on missing such a small yet critical step.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Air carrier Captain reported not descending via the STAR due to selecting LVL Change Pitch instead of VNAV on the MCP.

Narrative: Before the TOD; we briefed the arrival and programmed the FMC to descend via the ZZZZZ RNAV STAR correctly. When we got clearance from ATC to descend via the STAR; I selected 4;000 feet in the MCP window as previously briefed. Somewhere below 10;000 feet; ATC gave us vectors off the STAR and to descend and maintain 5;000 feet. We complied. I selected 5;000 feet in MCP window; HDG Select and LVL Change and informed the PM. Sometime later ATC gave us direct to ZZZZZ fix and descend via STAR. I programmed direct to ZZZZZ in the FMC; selected LNAV and set 4;000 feet in the MCP window as per the STAR. I informed the PM.We had a frequency change and the PM got a new ATIS at the same time as that was taking place. As we are approaching ZZZZZ fix; ATC confirmed that we were descending to 4;000 feet instead of crossing ZZZZZ fix at 5;000 feet. That's when I realized that we were in LVL Change pitch and not in VNAV. As I was communicating that to the PM; ATC gave us a further descend and vectors for the final approach. The rest of the flight was uneventful. There were no TCAS TA or RA at any time. We debriefed the incident at the gate. I realized that due to recent events regarding the future of my flying career and the constant uncertainty has hindered my rest. This may have been a factor for my distraction on missing such a small yet critical step.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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.

Attributes
ACN	1753972
Time
Date	202007
Local Time Of Day	0601-1200
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.TRACON
State Reference	US
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Descent
Route In Use	STAR ZZZZZ RNAV
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Pilot Flying Captain
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP) Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Multiengine
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 75
Events
Anomaly	Deviation - Altitude Crossing Restriction Not Met Deviation - Altitude Overshoot Deviation - Procedural Clearance Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy

Air carrier captain reported not descending via the STAR due to selecting lvl change pitch instead of VNAV on the MCP.