An large transport air carrier missed its crossing altitude on STAR into atl.

Attributes
ACN	226648
Time
Date	199211
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : atl
State Reference	GA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 14000 msl bound upper : 19000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : atl
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	arrival other arrival star : star enroute airway : atl
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 210 flight time total : 3000 flight time type : 5000
ASRS Report	226648
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 10000 flight time type : 700
ASRS Report	226646
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : undershoot altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : insufficient time
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

When atlanta approach issued a descent clearance to 'cross tiroe at 14000 ft' I misinterpreted tiroe intersection to be 40 DME from la grange VORTAC and based my descent calculation on that information. After passing honie intersection (12 DME northeast of la grange VORTAC), the captain tuned the #1 VOR receiver to atl VORTAC and noticed a discrepancy in the mileages. We were approximately 39 DME southeast of atl VORTAC. We rechked the STAR and determined that we had 10 mi to go and 5000 ft to lose before we got to tiroe intersection. I expedited our descent and consequently leveled at 14000 ft, approximately 4 mi late. We were unable to advise ATC of our mistake due to radio congestion and the controller made no comment when he gave us our handoff. To help preclude this from happening to someone else, maybe someone could review this chart (STAR) and come up with a different format for distances between la grange VORTAC and atlanta VORTAC. Just between honie intersection and tiroe intersection there are 3 different mileages. Supplemental information from acn 226646: on the chart, between honie and tiroe (about 3/4 inch in size), there are 3 different mileages along the course arrow. I would suggest reformatting the STAR to eliminate any confusion.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN LGT ACR MISSED ITS XING ALT ON STAR INTO ATL.

Narrative: WHEN ATLANTA APCH ISSUED A DSCNT CLRNC TO 'CROSS TIROE AT 14000 FT' I MISINTERPRETED TIROE INTXN TO BE 40 DME FROM LA GRANGE VORTAC AND BASED MY DSCNT CALCULATION ON THAT INFO. AFTER PASSING HONIE INTXN (12 DME NE OF LA GRANGE VORTAC), THE CAPT TUNED THE #1 VOR RECEIVER TO ATL VORTAC AND NOTICED A DISCREPANCY IN THE MILEAGES. WE WERE APPROX 39 DME SE OF ATL VORTAC. WE RECHKED THE STAR AND DETERMINED THAT WE HAD 10 MI TO GO AND 5000 FT TO LOSE BEFORE WE GOT TO TIROE INTXN. I EXPEDITED OUR DSCNT AND CONSEQUENTLY LEVELED AT 14000 FT, APPROX 4 MI LATE. WE WERE UNABLE TO ADVISE ATC OF OUR MISTAKE DUE TO RADIO CONGESTION AND THE CTLR MADE NO COMMENT WHEN HE GAVE US OUR HDOF. TO HELP PRECLUDE THIS FROM HAPPENING TO SOMEONE ELSE, MAYBE SOMEONE COULD REVIEW THIS CHART (STAR) AND COME UP WITH A DIFFERENT FORMAT FOR DISTANCES BTWN LA GRANGE VORTAC AND ATLANTA VORTAC. JUST BTWN HONIE INTXN AND TIROE INTXN THERE ARE 3 DIFFERENT MILEAGES. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 226646: ON THE CHART, BTWN HONIE AND TIROE (ABOUT 3/4 INCH IN SIZE), THERE ARE 3 DIFFERENT MILEAGES ALONG THE COURSE ARROW. I WOULD SUGGEST REFORMATTING THE STAR TO ELIMINATE ANY CONFUSION.

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.