Altitude crossing restr not met due to misunderstood communication.

Attributes
ACN	303550
Time
Date	199505
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : mkk
State Reference	HI
Altitude	msl bound lower : 6000 msl bound upper : 6500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	enroute airway : zhn
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 : 230 flight time total : 9000 flight time type : 530
ASRS Report	303550
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

It was the first officer's leg to be the PF. He is a very senior first officer with the company and is being upgraded to captain. I was the PNF. As the PNF my duties include communicating with ATC and the passenger. Approximately 25 mi northeast of mkk VOR, I told the PF that he had the #1 radio (ATC) while I made my PA. He acknowledged. During my PA, the PF received a descent clearance. When I was finished with the PA he informed me that we had been cleared to descend at pilot's discretion to 5000 ft, but to cross 6 NM northeast of mkk VOR at 6000 ft. I had no reason to doubt this. We began our descent and crossed the 6 NM point at 6000 ft. At this time the controller informed me that we had been cleared to cross 8 NM northeast of mkk VOR at or below 6000 ft. News to me. Prior to landing, the first officer stated he had not gotten much sleep the night prior due to a late departure at the airport and an even later phone call. Lesson learned: do not trust anyone, no matter how senior they area. Even if I am making a PA or talking to dispatch on the other radio, I will always maintain a 'listening watch' on ATC. I will also begin asking my crew during the captain brief how well rested they are and if they are mentally prepared for the flight.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ALT XING RESTR NOT MET DUE TO MISUNDERSTOOD COM.

Narrative: IT WAS THE FO'S LEG TO BE THE PF. HE IS A VERY SENIOR FO WITH THE COMPANY AND IS BEING UPGRADED TO CAPT. I WAS THE PNF. AS THE PNF MY DUTIES INCLUDE COMMUNICATING WITH ATC AND THE PAX. APPROX 25 MI NE OF MKK VOR, I TOLD THE PF THAT HE HAD THE #1 RADIO (ATC) WHILE I MADE MY PA. HE ACKNOWLEDGED. DURING MY PA, THE PF RECEIVED A DSCNT CLRNC. WHEN I WAS FINISHED WITH THE PA HE INFORMED ME THAT WE HAD BEEN CLRED TO DSND AT PLT'S DISCRETION TO 5000 FT, BUT TO CROSS 6 NM NE OF MKK VOR AT 6000 FT. I HAD NO REASON TO DOUBT THIS. WE BEGAN OUR DSCNT AND CROSSED THE 6 NM POINT AT 6000 FT. AT THIS TIME THE CTLR INFORMED ME THAT WE HAD BEEN CLRED TO CROSS 8 NM NE OF MKK VOR AT OR BELOW 6000 FT. NEWS TO ME. PRIOR TO LNDG, THE FO STATED HE HAD NOT GOTTEN MUCH SLEEP THE NIGHT PRIOR DUE TO A LATE DEP AT THE ARPT AND AN EVEN LATER PHONE CALL. LESSON LEARNED: DO NOT TRUST ANYONE, NO MATTER HOW SENIOR THEY AREA. EVEN IF I AM MAKING A PA OR TALKING TO DISPATCH ON THE OTHER RADIO, I WILL ALWAYS MAINTAIN A 'LISTENING WATCH' ON ATC. I WILL ALSO BEGIN ASKING MY CREW DURING THE CAPT BRIEF HOW WELL RESTED THEY ARE AND IF THEY ARE MENTALLY PREPARED FOR THE FLT.

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.