An medium large transport air carrier failed to make their crossing altitude on descent.

Attributes
ACN	210590
Time
Date	199205
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : las
State Reference	NV
Altitude	msl bound lower : 11000 msl bound upper : 24000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zla tracon : syr
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other descent other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 300 flight time total : 25000
ASRS Report	210590
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
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 : unable
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

While en route to the las airport at FL240 I was asked by ATC if I was going to be able to make a crossing altitude of 11000 ft MSL at crowe intersection (41 NM east of ilas). I did not understand the controller's question as I had no idea we were given any such clearance. My first officer then told me that he did receive and acknowledge the clearance while I was on the PA system talking to the passengers, but forgot to tell me as he became preoccupied with the prelndg checklist. I began an immediate descent but missed the crossing fix altitude by 1-2 mi. Lesson learned: when returning to 'the loop' from any distraction ie, PA's etc, always question the other pilot as to the status of the flight plan and flight profile.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN MLG ACR FAILED TO MAKE THEIR XING ALT ON DSCNT.

Narrative: WHILE ENRTE TO THE LAS ARPT AT FL240 I WAS ASKED BY ATC IF I WAS GOING TO BE ABLE TO MAKE A XING ALT OF 11000 FT MSL AT CROWE INTXN (41 NM E OF ILAS). I DID NOT UNDERSTAND THE CTLR'S QUESTION AS I HAD NO IDEA WE WERE GIVEN ANY SUCH CLRNC. MY FO THEN TOLD ME THAT HE DID RECEIVE AND ACKNOWLEDGE THE CLRNC WHILE I WAS ON THE PA SYS TALKING TO THE PAXS, BUT FORGOT TO TELL ME AS HE BECAME PREOCCUPIED WITH THE PRELNDG CHKLIST. I BEGAN AN IMMEDIATE DSCNT BUT MISSED THE XING FIX ALT BY 1-2 MI. LESSON LEARNED: WHEN RETURNING TO 'THE LOOP' FROM ANY DISTR IE, PA'S ETC, ALWAYS QUESTION THE OTHER PLT AS TO THE STATUS OF THE FLT PLAN AND FLT PROFILE.

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.