Altitude deviation altitude crossing restriction not met.

Attributes
ACN	209503
Time
Date	199205
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : vtu
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 22000 msl bound upper : 35000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zla tower : lax
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Widebody, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : other oceanic enroute : pacific enroute airway : zla
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 130 flight time total : 6700 flight time type : 2000
ASRS Report	209503
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met altitude deviation : undershoot non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

While flying from honolulu to los angeles we were given instructions for an initial descent from our cruise altitude of FL350 to cross 40 NM southwest of (vtu) ventura VOR at FL220. The next few mins were used to brief the approach and the saddle 4 arrival. After finishing the briefing I realized we were 40 NM southwest of vtu already and still at our cruise altitude. The captain then notified ATC of our problem as I initiated a rapid descent to the assigned altitude. During the descent ATC was momentarily unable to receive our transmissions but we copied a handoff frequency and the next controller had no difficulty receiving our transmissions. I believe better vigilance by all 3 of us in the cockpit, especially by myself, would have avoided the late descent. Several hours of flight tend to numb the thought processes. I can't believe I didn't descend when necessary but the event will be remembered each time I receive a descent clearance in the future.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ALTDEV ALT XING RESTRICTION NOT MET.

Narrative: WHILE FLYING FROM HONOLULU TO LOS ANGELES WE WERE GIVEN INSTRUCTIONS FOR AN INITIAL DSCNT FROM OUR CRUISE ALT OF FL350 TO CROSS 40 NM SW OF (VTU) VENTURA VOR AT FL220. THE NEXT FEW MINS WERE USED TO BRIEF THE APCH AND THE SADDLE 4 ARR. AFTER FINISHING THE BRIEFING I REALIZED WE WERE 40 NM SW OF VTU ALREADY AND STILL AT OUR CRUISE ALT. THE CAPT THEN NOTIFIED ATC OF OUR PROBLEM AS I INITIATED A RAPID DSCNT TO THE ASSIGNED ALT. DURING THE DSCNT ATC WAS MOMENTARILY UNABLE TO RECEIVE OUR TRANSMISSIONS BUT WE COPIED A HDOF FREQ AND THE NEXT CTLR HAD NO DIFFICULTY RECEIVING OUR TRANSMISSIONS. I BELIEVE BETTER VIGILANCE BY ALL 3 OF US IN THE COCKPIT, ESPECIALLY BY MYSELF, WOULD HAVE AVOIDED THE LATE DSCNT. SEVERAL HRS OF FLT TEND TO NUMB THE THOUGHT PROCESSES. I CAN'T BELIEVE I DIDN'T DSND WHEN NECESSARY BUT THE EVENT WILL BE REMEMBERED EACH TIME I RECEIVE A DSCNT CLRNC IN THE FUTURE.

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.