Flight crew of an medium large transport failed to descend to assigned altitude at a crossing fix.

Attributes
ACN	299460
Time
Date	199503
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : ric
State Reference	VA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 33000 msl bound upper : 33000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise 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 : 175 flight time total : 13100 flight time type : 1600
ASRS Report	299460
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
ASRS Report	299622
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

ATC assigned to cross our flight 85 NM south of ric VOR at FL290. We were cruising at FL330. Since we were over 135 NM south of ric we decided to remain level for the time being. Distracted and not paying attention, ATC called us and asked our DME from ric. We were at 85 DME still level at FL330. We then expedited our descent to FL290 without delay or conflict to any traffic we were busy talking and missed the restr.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLC OF AN MLG FAILED TO DSND TO ASSIGNED ALT AT A XING FIX.

Narrative: ATC ASSIGNED TO CROSS OUR FLT 85 NM S OF RIC VOR AT FL290. WE WERE CRUISING AT FL330. SINCE WE WERE OVER 135 NM S OF RIC WE DECIDED TO REMAIN LEVEL FOR THE TIME BEING. DISTRACTED AND NOT PAYING ATTN, ATC CALLED US AND ASKED OUR DME FROM RIC. WE WERE AT 85 DME STILL LEVEL AT FL330. WE THEN EXPEDITED OUR DSCNT TO FL290 WITHOUT DELAY OR CONFLICT TO ANY TFC WE WERE BUSY TALKING AND MISSED 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.