Flight crew of an medium large transport failed to make a crossing altitude when the first officer misprogrammed the FMC for the descent capture altitude.

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Attributes
ACN	334663
Time
Date	199605
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : pgs
State Reference	AZ
Altitude	msl bound lower : 24000 msl bound upper : 33000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zla tower : den
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
Route In Use	arrival other arrival star : star
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 800 flight time total : 10000 flight time type : 4000
ASRS Report	334663
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met altitude deviation : undershoot non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

We were given a descent clearance from FL330 to FL240. I (PNF) set the altitude and verified it with the copilot (PF). I then made a cabin announcement and other cockpit duties. Center came on (about 2 mins later) and asked us if we had started our descent. I said negative, then we immediately started a maximum rate descent. Center gave us a left turn of 40 degree. The copilot said he attempted a 'capture descent.' for some reason it didn't work. Lesson learned: these 'fancy' glass airplanes really need to be crosschecked by both PF and PNF.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLC OF AN MLG FAILED TO MAKE A XING ALT WHEN THE FO MISPROGRAMMED THE FMC FOR THE DSCNT CAPTURE ALT.

Narrative: WE WERE GIVEN A DSCNT CLRNC FROM FL330 TO FL240. I (PNF) SET THE ALT AND VERIFIED IT WITH THE COPLT (PF). I THEN MADE A CABIN ANNOUNCEMENT AND OTHER COCKPIT DUTIES. CTR CAME ON (ABOUT 2 MINS LATER) AND ASKED US IF WE HAD STARTED OUR DSCNT. I SAID NEGATIVE, THEN WE IMMEDIATELY STARTED A MAX RATE DSCNT. CTR GAVE US A L TURN OF 40 DEG. THE COPLT SAID HE ATTEMPTED A 'CAPTURE DSCNT.' FOR SOME REASON IT DIDN'T WORK. LESSON LEARNED: THESE 'FANCY' GLASS AIRPLANES REALLY NEED TO BE XCHKED BY BOTH PF AND PNF.

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.