Altitude crossing restr not met. Altitude deviation altitude undershot in descent.

Attributes
ACN	316199
Time
Date	199509
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : slc
State Reference	UT
Altitude	msl bound lower : 17000 msl bound upper : 20000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zlc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	enroute other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : flight engineer pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 5000 flight time type : 3000
ASRS Report	316199
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : undershoot altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met inflight encounter other non adherence : clearance other anomaly
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Cleared to cross 45 south of the slc VOR at 17000 ft at 250 KTS. Captain started descent, but I questioned whether he would make the restr. At about 55 NM south of slc VOR, I said 'you're planning 45 south at 17000 ft 250 KTS correct?' he said yes. He continued down, at a high rate of descent, but wound up crossing 45 south of slc VOR at FL200. He continued descent to 17000 ft, reaching this altitude at about 38 NM south of the slc VOR. He then continued descent to 16700 ft, and corrected back to 17000 ft, as he started to slow to 250 KTS. He commented that he had not factioned in the tailwind. There was no conflict with other traffic. I did not feel that it was my place to take over control of the aircraft since I saw no immediate danger. In the future, I think I would just go ahead and call ATC, and let them know that we might not make the restr, so they could plan accordingly or alert us if it was going to create a problem.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ALT XING RESTR NOT MET. ALTDEV ALT UNDERSHOT IN DSCNT.

Narrative: CLRED TO CROSS 45 S OF THE SLC VOR AT 17000 FT AT 250 KTS. CAPT STARTED DSCNT, BUT I QUESTIONED WHETHER HE WOULD MAKE THE RESTR. AT ABOUT 55 NM S OF SLC VOR, I SAID 'YOU'RE PLANNING 45 S AT 17000 FT 250 KTS CORRECT?' HE SAID YES. HE CONTINUED DOWN, AT A HIGH RATE OF DSCNT, BUT WOUND UP XING 45 S OF SLC VOR AT FL200. HE CONTINUED DSCNT TO 17000 FT, REACHING THIS ALT AT ABOUT 38 NM S OF THE SLC VOR. HE THEN CONTINUED DSCNT TO 16700 FT, AND CORRECTED BACK TO 17000 FT, AS HE STARTED TO SLOW TO 250 KTS. HE COMMENTED THAT HE HAD NOT FACTIONED IN THE TAILWIND. THERE WAS NO CONFLICT WITH OTHER TFC. I DID NOT FEEL THAT IT WAS MY PLACE TO TAKE OVER CTL OF THE ACFT SINCE I SAW NO IMMEDIATE DANGER. IN THE FUTURE, I THINK I WOULD JUST GO AHEAD AND CALL ATC, AND LET THEM KNOW THAT WE MIGHT NOT MAKE THE RESTR, SO THEY COULD PLAN ACCORDINGLY OR ALERT US IF IT WAS GOING TO CREATE A PROB.

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.