Flight crew of light transport failed to make crossing altitude as cleared.

Attributes
ACN	186193
Time
Date	199108
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : roa
State Reference	VA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 10000 msl bound upper : 12500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : ztl
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Light Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turboprop Eng
Flight Phase	descent other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 310 flight time total : 12500 flight time type : 1200
ASRS Report	186193
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : undershoot altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Atl center issued us a clearance to cross 35 mi southwest of roanoke at 10000 ft. We were at cruise, at FL240 and 53 DME from roa VOR when clearance was issued. I immediately started down but only at approximately 1500 FPM. At 45 DME I realized we were going to be close on our clearance so I increased our descent rate to 22-2300 FPM. We were also doing our checklist and not closely monitoring our progress. We crossed the 35 DME at 12400 and 2500 FPM. Atl center asked our altitude as we leveled at 10000 ft and 28 DME. He sounded 'miffed' that we didn't advise him that we would be unable to make our crossing restriction. I fully agree with him on that 1 aspect. If I had advised him, I believe it would not have been such a problem, but it seems that this 1 sector consistently keeps us up high, then gives us unrealistic crossing restrictions. It almost looks like a bet by 'them' to see who can or cannot make the clearance. I found through this problem that atl center owns the air to 10000 ft and to keep from working with washington center on our flts they have to get us down in a short distance. From now on, a simple 'unable' from me will probably save a lot of heartache. Center also needs to clarify if they need an aircraft a certain DME from a VOR or from an airport. This has a 7 mi difference in the 2.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLC OF LTT FAILED TO MAKE XING ALT AS CLRED.

Narrative: ATL CENTER ISSUED US A CLRNC TO CROSS 35 MI SW OF ROANOKE AT 10000 FT. WE WERE AT CRUISE, AT FL240 AND 53 DME FROM ROA VOR WHEN CLRNC WAS ISSUED. I IMMEDIATELY STARTED DOWN BUT ONLY AT APPROX 1500 FPM. AT 45 DME I REALIZED WE WERE GOING TO BE CLOSE ON OUR CLRNC SO I INCREASED OUR DSCNT RATE TO 22-2300 FPM. WE WERE ALSO DOING OUR CHKLIST AND NOT CLOSELY MONITORING OUR PROGRESS. WE CROSSED THE 35 DME AT 12400 AND 2500 FPM. ATL CENTER ASKED OUR ALT AS WE LEVELED AT 10000 FT AND 28 DME. HE SOUNDED 'MIFFED' THAT WE DIDN'T ADVISE HIM THAT WE WOULD BE UNABLE TO MAKE OUR XING RESTRICTION. I FULLY AGREE WITH HIM ON THAT 1 ASPECT. IF I HAD ADVISED HIM, I BELIEVE IT WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN SUCH A PROBLEM, BUT IT SEEMS THAT THIS 1 SECTOR CONSISTENTLY KEEPS US UP HIGH, THEN GIVES US UNREALISTIC XING RESTRICTIONS. IT ALMOST LOOKS LIKE A BET BY 'THEM' TO SEE WHO CAN OR CANNOT MAKE THE CLRNC. I FOUND THROUGH THIS PROBLEM THAT ATL CENTER OWNS THE AIR TO 10000 FT AND TO KEEP FROM WORKING WITH WASHINGTON CENTER ON OUR FLTS THEY HAVE TO GET US DOWN IN A SHORT DISTANCE. FROM NOW ON, A SIMPLE 'UNABLE' FROM ME WILL PROBABLY SAVE A LOT OF HEARTACHE. CENTER ALSO NEEDS TO CLARIFY IF THEY NEED AN ACFT A CERTAIN DME FROM A VOR OR FROM AN ARPT. THIS HAS A 7 MI DIFFERENCE IN THE 2.

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.