Medium large transport flight crew misses crossing restr.

Attributes
ACN	301446
Time
Date	199504
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : ewr
State Reference	NJ
Altitude	msl bound lower : 22000 msl bound upper : 35000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc
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
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 190 flight time total : 7500 flight time type : 2000
ASRS Report	301446
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

In cruise at 35000 ft, approaching ewr, ZDC gave crossing restr at ridgy intersection of 310 KTS at 24000 ft. Copilot was flying aircraft and set up 310 KTS 24000 ft on CDU at ridgy as well as 24000 ft on MCP. After verifying this, I told him I would be off frequency while I copied the ATIS and talked to company. As I finished, I looked up and CDU was displaying 'descent path unachievable' and we were at 35000 ft with 1 NM to go until ridgy. VNAV started aircraft down with a bug showing 210 KTS, but VNAV took aircraft to barber pole speed. I reported to ATC that we had just left FL350 and would obviously not make ridgy at 24000 ft. Controller said not to worry just descend to FL200. During descent VNAV started climbing the aircraft as we passed 22000 ft and copilot switched to 'vertical speed' mode. Wrote up FMS at ewr. Both copilot and I were complacent and inattentive.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MLG FLC MISSES XING RESTR.

Narrative: IN CRUISE AT 35000 FT, APCHING EWR, ZDC GAVE XING RESTR AT RIDGY INTXN OF 310 KTS AT 24000 FT. COPLT WAS FLYING ACFT AND SET UP 310 KTS 24000 FT ON CDU AT RIDGY AS WELL AS 24000 FT ON MCP. AFTER VERIFYING THIS, I TOLD HIM I WOULD BE OFF FREQ WHILE I COPIED THE ATIS AND TALKED TO COMPANY. AS I FINISHED, I LOOKED UP AND CDU WAS DISPLAYING 'DSCNT PATH UNACHIEVABLE' AND WE WERE AT 35000 FT WITH 1 NM TO GO UNTIL RIDGY. VNAV STARTED ACFT DOWN WITH A BUG SHOWING 210 KTS, BUT VNAV TOOK ACFT TO BARBER POLE SPD. I RPTED TO ATC THAT WE HAD JUST LEFT FL350 AND WOULD OBVIOUSLY NOT MAKE RIDGY AT 24000 FT. CTLR SAID NOT TO WORRY JUST DSND TO FL200. DURING DSCNT VNAV STARTED CLBING THE ACFT AS WE PASSED 22000 FT AND COPLT SWITCHED TO 'VERT SPD' MODE. WROTE UP FMS AT EWR. BOTH COPLT AND I WERE COMPLACENT AND INATTENTIVE.

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.