Medium large transport flight crew misses crossing restr on descent.

Attributes
ACN	295454
Time
Date	199502
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : dag
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 24000 msl bound upper : 27000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zla
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	cruise other descent other
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 240 flight time total : 14000 flight time type : 8000
ASRS Report	295454
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

While cruising FL270, we were given a crossing restr of FL240. I made a mental note of my planned descent point, and continued talking with captain about an unrelated topic. Flight crew attendant came into cockpit and engaged us in conversation. As flight attendant left, center cleared us to FL230 without comment. It was at that time that we realized we were 4 mi beyond for the fix at which we were to be at FL240. I expedited to FL240 and continued to FL230. The controller said nothing. Our TCASII showed no traffic in our area. We were both distraction to the point where we failed to initiate the descent in a timely manner.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MLG FLC MISSES XING RESTR ON DSCNT.

Narrative: WHILE CRUISING FL270, WE WERE GIVEN A XING RESTR OF FL240. I MADE A MENTAL NOTE OF MY PLANNED DSCNT POINT, AND CONTINUED TALKING WITH CAPT ABOUT AN UNRELATED TOPIC. FLC ATTENDANT CAME INTO COCKPIT AND ENGAGED US IN CONVERSATION. AS FLT ATTENDANT LEFT, CTR CLRED US TO FL230 WITHOUT COMMENT. IT WAS AT THAT TIME THAT WE REALIZED WE WERE 4 MI BEYOND FOR THE FIX AT WHICH WE WERE TO BE AT FL240. I EXPEDITED TO FL240 AND CONTINUED TO FL230. THE CTLR SAID NOTHING. OUR TCASII SHOWED NO TFC IN OUR AREA. WE WERE BOTH DISTR TO THE POINT WHERE WE FAILED TO INITIATE THE DSCNT IN A TIMELY MANNER.

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.