Pilot deviation. Unable to make descent crossing restr.

Attributes
ACN	296042
Time
Date	199502
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : fak
State Reference	VA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 17000 msl bound upper : 25000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : atl
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
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 : 150 flight time total : 15000 flight time type : 3000
ASRS Report	296042
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 10000 flight time type : 2000
ASRS Report	296400
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : insufficient time
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Captain was the PF. 50 NM east of fak, center cleared us to descend from FL250 to cross 20 NM west of fak at 17000 ft. Center then gave us a frequency change. The next controller then cleared us to descend to 9000 ft. At approximately 21 NM west of fak, as we were descending through 17000 ft, the controller asked us if we were going to make the 9000 ft crossing altitude 20 NM west of fak as he had instructed us obviously we couldn't. If I had it to do over again, I would question the possible contradiction between the 2 clrncs we were issued. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: clarified with reporter that the crossing point in narrative was west of flat rock and not east as indicated. Reporter stated that it was west. Asked the reporter if the second controller had issued a crossing restr with the descent clearance and he indicated that they did not hear one but he also indicated that they could have been busy and missed the restr. Reporter indicated their surprise when the controller asked if they were going to make the restr.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLTDEV. UNABLE TO MAKE DSCNT XING RESTR.

Narrative: CAPT WAS THE PF. 50 NM E OF FAK, CTR CLRED US TO DSND FROM FL250 TO CROSS 20 NM W OF FAK AT 17000 FT. CTR THEN GAVE US A FREQ CHANGE. THE NEXT CTLR THEN CLRED US TO DSND TO 9000 FT. AT APPROX 21 NM W OF FAK, AS WE WERE DSNDING THROUGH 17000 FT, THE CTLR ASKED US IF WE WERE GOING TO MAKE THE 9000 FT XING ALT 20 NM W OF FAK AS HE HAD INSTRUCTED US OBVIOUSLY WE COULDN'T. IF I HAD IT TO DO OVER AGAIN, I WOULD QUESTION THE POSSIBLE CONTRADICTION BTWN THE 2 CLRNCS WE WERE ISSUED. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: CLARIFIED WITH RPTR THAT THE XING POINT IN NARRATIVE WAS W OF FLAT ROCK AND NOT E AS INDICATED. RPTR STATED THAT IT WAS W. ASKED THE RPTR IF THE SECOND CTLR HAD ISSUED A XING RESTR WITH THE DSCNT CLRNC AND HE INDICATED THAT THEY DID NOT HEAR ONE BUT HE ALSO INDICATED THAT THEY COULD HAVE BEEN BUSY AND MISSED THE RESTR. RPTR INDICATED THEIR SURPRISE WHEN THE CTLR ASKED IF THEY WERE GOING TO MAKE THE RESTR.

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.