An air carrier B 757 missed a crossing restriction.

Attributes
ACN	261791
Time
Date	199401
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : tlh
State Reference	FL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 27000 msl bound upper : 33000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zjx
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B757 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	descent other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 160 flight time total : 4000 flight time type : 160
ASRS Report	261791
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 400 flight time total : 16000
ASRS Report	261934
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met altitude deviation : undershoot non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Center gave us clearance to cross claws at FL270. I programmed the restriction into the FMC and altitude window. I thought I was in VNAV. However, in a previous descent, I selected a 1500 FPM vertical speed descent to hurry through rough air. The autoplt leveled at 330 but I failed to reselect VNAV. So, when we hit top of descent, the aircraft did not descend. We were distracted and did not make the 270 at claws. ATC alerted us to the situation and modified our clearance stating there was no traffic conflict. Lesson learned: don't allow automation to lull into complacency of monitoring aircraft performance to meet a clearance.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN ACR B 757 MISSED A XING RESTRICTION.

Narrative: CTR GAVE US CLRNC TO CROSS CLAWS AT FL270. I PROGRAMMED THE RESTRICTION INTO THE FMC AND ALT WINDOW. I THOUGHT I WAS IN VNAV. HOWEVER, IN A PREVIOUS DSCNT, I SELECTED A 1500 FPM VERT SPD DSCNT TO HURRY THROUGH ROUGH AIR. THE AUTOPLT LEVELED AT 330 BUT I FAILED TO RESELECT VNAV. SO, WHEN WE HIT TOP OF DSCNT, THE ACFT DID NOT DSND. WE WERE DISTRACTED AND DID NOT MAKE THE 270 AT CLAWS. ATC ALERTED US TO THE SIT AND MODIFIED OUR CLRNC STATING THERE WAS NO TFC CONFLICT. LESSON LEARNED: DON'T ALLOW AUTOMATION TO LULL INTO COMPLACENCY OF MONITORING ACFT PERFORMANCE TO MEET A CLRNC.

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.