An air carrier large transport failed to meet a crossing restriction.

Attributes
ACN	226082
Time
Date	199211
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : ekr
State Reference	CO
Altitude	msl bound lower : 31000 msl bound upper : 35000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdv artcc : slc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 3 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 pilot : commercial pilot : flight engineer pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 10500 flight time type : 3000
ASRS Report	226082
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : second officer
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 50 flight time total : 3500 flight time type : 250
ASRS Report	226637
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Cruising at FL350 wbound on J116, ZDV instructed to cross 50 mi west of meeker at FL310. First officer was flying and had meeker VOR tuned. I had fairfield VOR tuned but was not yet receiving DME. Crew began conversation about various topics and became distracted temporarily. I finally looked across at first officer's DME and noticed we had just passed 50 mi fix still at FL350. I took control of aircraft and quickly descended to FL310 by 60 DME. No traffic was observed visually or on TCASII with 50 mi range selected. We were handed off to ZLC and advised 'no problem.' 2 suggestions: while light conversation at cruise altitude is good, intense controversial subjects can sometimes become engrossing. Both pilots should keep tuned to DME to identify crossing fixes. (First officer DME was on far side of cockpit and not in normal scan from left seat).

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN ACR LGT FAILED TO MEET A XING RESTRICTION.

Narrative: CRUISING AT FL350 WBOUND ON J116, ZDV INSTRUCTED TO CROSS 50 MI W OF MEEKER AT FL310. FO WAS FLYING AND HAD MEEKER VOR TUNED. I HAD FAIRFIELD VOR TUNED BUT WAS NOT YET RECEIVING DME. CREW BEGAN CONVERSATION ABOUT VARIOUS TOPICS AND BECAME DISTRACTED TEMPORARILY. I FINALLY LOOKED ACROSS AT FO'S DME AND NOTICED WE HAD JUST PASSED 50 MI FIX STILL AT FL350. I TOOK CTL OF ACFT AND QUICKLY DSNDED TO FL310 BY 60 DME. NO TFC WAS OBSERVED VISUALLY OR ON TCASII WITH 50 MI RANGE SELECTED. WE WERE HANDED OFF TO ZLC AND ADVISED 'NO PROBLEM.' 2 SUGGESTIONS: WHILE LIGHT CONVERSATION AT CRUISE ALT IS GOOD, INTENSE CONTROVERSIAL SUBJECTS CAN SOMETIMES BECOME ENGROSSING. BOTH PLTS SHOULD KEEP TUNED TO DME TO IDENT XING FIXES. (FO DME WAS ON FAR SIDE OF COCKPIT AND NOT IN NORMAL SCAN FROM L SEAT).

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.