Air carrier medium large transport altitude deviation undershot altitude crossing restriction.

Attributes
ACN	197339
Time
Date	199112
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : esl
State Reference	WV
Altitude	msl bound lower : 24000 msl bound upper : 26000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	cruise other cruise other descent other
Route In Use	enroute airway : zdc
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 17000 flight time type : 1500
ASRS Report	197339
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : insufficient time none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Was cleared by washington center to cross a point 25 KM west of kessel (esl) VOR at and maintain FL240. First officer controling the aircraft, captain working communications. Flight conditions good with 100 KT tailwind which we had discussed during cruise segment. First officer very occupied with making everything 'automatic.' flight attendant enters cockpit with minor problem. I instruct first officer to remove automatic descent (not set up properly) mode and go to vertical descent (manual) approximately 40 mi west of esl. Flight attendant problem solved and I observe that we are 25 west of esl and descending through 26000 ft. The cause in my opinion: a) first officer insistence to diddle with 'automatic everything' modes disregarding good airmanship practices. B) flight attendant -- minor distraction. C) captain not monitoring actions of first officer soon enough that 'video games' didn't cause the missing of intersection crossing restriction.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR MLG ALTDEV UNDERSHOT ALT XING RESTRICTION.

Narrative: WAS CLRED BY WASHINGTON CENTER TO CROSS A POINT 25 KM W OF KESSEL (ESL) VOR AT AND MAINTAIN FL240. FO CTLING THE ACFT, CAPT WORKING COMS. FLT CONDITIONS GOOD WITH 100 KT TAILWIND WHICH WE HAD DISCUSSED DURING CRUISE SEGMENT. FO VERY OCCUPIED WITH MAKING EVERYTHING 'AUTO.' FLT ATTENDANT ENTERS COCKPIT WITH MINOR PROBLEM. I INSTRUCT FO TO REMOVE AUTO DSCNT (NOT SET UP PROPERLY) MODE AND GO TO VERT DSCNT (MANUAL) APPROX 40 MI W OF ESL. FLT ATTENDANT PROBLEM SOLVED AND I OBSERVE THAT WE ARE 25 W OF ESL AND DSNDING THROUGH 26000 FT. THE CAUSE IN MY OPINION: A) FO INSISTENCE TO DIDDLE WITH 'AUTO EVERYTHING' MODES DISREGARDING GOOD AIRMANSHIP PRACTICES. B) FLT ATTENDANT -- MINOR DISTR. C) CAPT NOT MONITORING ACTIONS OF FO SOON ENOUGH THAT 'VIDEO GAMES' DIDN'T CAUSE THE MISSING OF INTXN XING RESTRICTION.

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.