Air carrier misses crossing restriction TCASII distraction.

Attributes
ACN	179897
Time
Date	199105
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : las
State Reference	NV
Altitude	msl bound lower : 11000 msl bound upper : 11700
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	enroute airway : zla
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 240 flight time total : 8700 flight time type : 4500
ASRS Report	179897
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
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:

We were cleared to cross 41 DME from las vegas at 11000'. In descent we noticed numerous TCAS targets--one at 12 O'clock and below, about 15 mi ahead. We began a speed reduction for chop and monitored the TCAS target at 12 O'clock to see which way he was going. At the 44 DME mark, I noticed we were high. Used the speed brake, but crossed 41 DME at 11700' instead of 11000'. Center handed us off to approach with no comment. Approach also made no comment, so I suppose our crossing looked all right to them. TCAS is fairly new and getting used to it will take time; however, with all the bells and whistles, we still need to mind the basics and fly the aircraft first. I was distracted from flying the aircraft by TCAS. Sometimes it's harder to be legal than it is to be safe.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR MISSES CROSSING RESTRICTION TCASII DISTR.

Narrative: WE WERE CLRED TO CROSS 41 DME FROM LAS VEGAS AT 11000'. IN DSNT WE NOTICED NUMEROUS TCAS TARGETS--ONE AT 12 O'CLOCK AND BELOW, ABOUT 15 MI AHEAD. WE BEGAN A SPD REDUCTION FOR CHOP AND MONITORED THE TCAS TARGET AT 12 O'CLOCK TO SEE WHICH WAY HE WAS GOING. AT THE 44 DME MARK, I NOTICED WE WERE HIGH. USED THE SPD BRAKE, BUT CROSSED 41 DME AT 11700' INSTEAD OF 11000'. CENTER HANDED US OFF TO APCH WITH NO COMMENT. APCH ALSO MADE NO COMMENT, SO I SUPPOSE OUR XING LOOKED ALL RIGHT TO THEM. TCAS IS FAIRLY NEW AND GETTING USED TO IT WILL TAKE TIME; HOWEVER, WITH ALL THE BELLS AND WHISTLES, WE STILL NEED TO MIND THE BASICS AND FLY THE ACFT FIRST. I WAS DISTRACTED FROM FLYING THE ACFT BY TCAS. SOMETIMES IT'S HARDER TO BE LEGAL THAN IT IS TO BE SAFE.

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.