Undershot crossing restr on descent.

Attributes
ACN	319900
Time
Date	199510
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : ffu airport : slc
State Reference	UT
Altitude	msl bound lower : 23000 msl bound upper : 24000
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
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	arrival other enroute airway : zlc
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 55 flight time total : 7500 flight time type : 55
ASRS Report	319900
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met altitude deviation : undershoot non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

We were given a descent to cross 50 NM east of fairfield at FL230. The captain loaded this fix and altitude restr in the FMS but failed to execute the procedure. The fix appeared on our map display but was not 'active.' the VNAV function did not recognize the altitude restr since it was still not entered. Thus, VNAV did not begin the descent at the appropriate time. We recognized the FMS was going above the necessary profile to make the restr. The captain initiated the descent using full speed brakes and attained a descent rate of about 6000 FPM. We did not level off at the assigned altitude until 2 NM past the fix. Overhead the fix we were 1000 ft high.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: UNDERSHOT XING RESTR ON DSCNT.

Narrative: WE WERE GIVEN A DSCNT TO CROSS 50 NM E OF FAIRFIELD AT FL230. THE CAPT LOADED THIS FIX AND ALT RESTR IN THE FMS BUT FAILED TO EXECUTE THE PROC. THE FIX APPEARED ON OUR MAP DISPLAY BUT WAS NOT 'ACTIVE.' THE VNAV FUNCTION DID NOT RECOGNIZE THE ALT RESTR SINCE IT WAS STILL NOT ENTERED. THUS, VNAV DID NOT BEGIN THE DSCNT AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME. WE RECOGNIZED THE FMS WAS GOING ABOVE THE NECESSARY PROFILE TO MAKE THE RESTR. THE CAPT INITIATED THE DSCNT USING FULL SPD BRAKES AND ATTAINED A DSCNT RATE OF ABOUT 6000 FPM. WE DID NOT LEVEL OFF AT THE ASSIGNED ALT UNTIL 2 NM PAST THE FIX. OVERHEAD THE FIX WE WERE 1000 FT HIGH.

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.