Narrative:

The clearance was to cross 35 east of gordonsville at 29000. Cruise altitude was 37000. The problem was misplaced trust tempered with an equal amount of inadequate attention. You fly with a young man for a month and you evaluate his capabilities, develop a sense of trust and confidence if he is, in fact, 'a good stick.' I did this. I developed a trust he had done a good job all month. 'Cross 35 east of gordonsville at FL290.' I set the altitude and I know he (my copilot) understood the restriction. We began the descent with plenty of time and altitude. Just into the descent, I started to pick it up -- holding for phl due to runway lights out. We didn't have much holding fuel and the delays given to aircraft in front of us were considerable. I called up bwi's WX planning for a possible diversion. Everything was under control -- 'bull' -- I check our descent and 'there ain't no way' we're going to make 290 by 35 mi. We're at idle power and full speed brakes and still missed the crossing by 1700 ft. It's embarrassing to write a narrative like this. I'm an experienced pilot -- a professional -- not the best, but I work at it. Wouldn't you have expected the copilot to extend the speed brakes earlier in order to make the crossing? I did. I guess I've gotten a bit lazy. I'll have to pay attention until the fat lady is done singing.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ALTDEV ALT UNDERSHOT IN DSCNT. ALT XING RESTRICTION NOT MADE.

Narrative: THE CLRNC WAS TO CROSS 35 E OF GORDONSVILLE AT 29000. CRUISE ALT WAS 37000. THE PROBLEM WAS MISPLACED TRUST TEMPERED WITH AN EQUAL AMOUNT OF INADEQUATE ATTN. YOU FLY WITH A YOUNG MAN FOR A MONTH AND YOU EVALUATE HIS CAPABILITIES, DEVELOP A SENSE OF TRUST AND CONFIDENCE IF HE IS, IN FACT, 'A GOOD STICK.' I DID THIS. I DEVELOPED A TRUST HE HAD DONE A GOOD JOB ALL MONTH. 'CROSS 35 E OF GORDONSVILLE AT FL290.' I SET THE ALT AND I KNOW HE (MY COPLT) UNDERSTOOD THE RESTRICTION. WE BEGAN THE DSCNT WITH PLENTY OF TIME AND ALT. JUST INTO THE DSCNT, I STARTED TO PICK IT UP -- HOLDING FOR PHL DUE TO RWY LIGHTS OUT. WE DIDN'T HAVE MUCH HOLDING FUEL AND THE DELAYS GIVEN TO ACFT IN FRONT OF US WERE CONSIDERABLE. I CALLED UP BWI'S WX PLANNING FOR A POSSIBLE DIVERSION. EVERYTHING WAS UNDER CTL -- 'BULL' -- I CHK OUR DSCNT AND 'THERE AIN'T NO WAY' WE'RE GOING TO MAKE 290 BY 35 MI. WE'RE AT IDLE PWR AND FULL SPD BRAKES AND STILL MISSED THE XING BY 1700 FT. IT'S EMBARRASSING TO WRITE A NARRATIVE LIKE THIS. I'M AN EXPERIENCED PLT -- A PROFESSIONAL -- NOT THE BEST, BUT I WORK AT IT. WOULDN'T YOU HAVE EXPECTED THE COPLT TO EXTEND THE SPD BRAKES EARLIER IN ORDER TO MAKE THE XING? I DID. I GUESS I'VE GOTTEN A BIT LAZY. I'LL HAVE TO PAY ATTN UNTIL THE FAT LADY IS DONE SINGING.

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.