Narrative:

While deviating around thunderstorms ATC cleared us direct sju VOR, cross 40 mi west at 7000 ft. Acknowledged clearance to ATC while PF should have dialed 7000 ft in the altitude alerter, per company procedure. PF was concerned with deviating around WX and voiced concern to me after I read back clearance. As PNF, I am supposed to verbally restate the clearance to the PF. This sequence of events was interrupted by the PF statements. As a result, the altitude alerter was not set and the PF was not aware of the crossing restr. ATC turned us off the airway at 47 NM from sju VOR and issued descent instructions. This breakdown in communication and standardization led directly to this near violation. It is under circumstances out of the ordinary, such as ours, that standardization and communication play their most important role.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLC FAILED TO START DSCNT WHEN INSTRUCTED BY ATC RESULTING IN NOT MEETING A XING RESTR.

Narrative: WHILE DEVIATING AROUND TSTMS ATC CLRED US DIRECT SJU VOR, CROSS 40 MI W AT 7000 FT. ACKNOWLEDGED CLRNC TO ATC WHILE PF SHOULD HAVE DIALED 7000 FT IN THE ALT ALERTER, PER COMPANY PROC. PF WAS CONCERNED WITH DEVIATING AROUND WX AND VOICED CONCERN TO ME AFTER I READ BACK CLRNC. AS PNF, I AM SUPPOSED TO VERBALLY RESTATE THE CLRNC TO THE PF. THIS SEQUENCE OF EVENTS WAS INTERRUPTED BY THE PF STATEMENTS. AS A RESULT, THE ALT ALERTER WAS NOT SET AND THE PF WAS NOT AWARE OF THE XING RESTR. ATC TURNED US OFF THE AIRWAY AT 47 NM FROM SJU VOR AND ISSUED DSCNT INSTRUCTIONS. THIS BREAKDOWN IN COM AND STANDARDIZATION LED DIRECTLY TO THIS NEAR VIOLATION. IT IS UNDER CIRCUMSTANCES OUT OF THE ORDINARY, SUCH AS OURS, THAT STANDARDIZATION AND COM PLAY THEIR MOST IMPORTANT ROLE.

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.