Altitude deviation altitude crossing restr not met by DC9 flight crew. First officer PF.

Attributes
ACN	343400
Time
Date	199608
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : djb
State Reference	OH
Altitude	msl bound lower : 24000 msl bound upper : 24600
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zob
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	DC-8 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 130 flight time total : 15750 flight time type : 10850
ASRS Report	343400
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : undershoot altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Descending into dtw we were cleared to cross djb VOR at FL240. First officer was flying. While performing checklist and radio work I failed to monitor the first officer's descent accurately. Crossed djb VOR approximately 500-700 ft high. I was aware from previous dscnts that the first officer liked to reach the crossing point just as she was leveling at the required altitude. (I used to do the same thing.) this technique takes me out of my normal procedures because I need to back the PF up by close monitoring of altitude. In this case I was performing my normal procedures and didn't monitor close enough. A better technique is to reach your altitude a few mi early so one or the other or both pilots don't have to deviate from their normal procedures in order to be sure to make the assigned crossing restr.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ALTDEV ALT XING RESTR NOT MET BY DC9 FLC. FO PF.

Narrative: DSNDING INTO DTW WE WERE CLRED TO CROSS DJB VOR AT FL240. FO WAS FLYING. WHILE PERFORMING CHKLIST AND RADIO WORK I FAILED TO MONITOR THE FO'S DSCNT ACCURATELY. CROSSED DJB VOR APPROX 500-700 FT HIGH. I WAS AWARE FROM PREVIOUS DSCNTS THAT THE FO LIKED TO REACH THE XING POINT JUST AS SHE WAS LEVELING AT THE REQUIRED ALT. (I USED TO DO THE SAME THING.) THIS TECHNIQUE TAKES ME OUT OF MY NORMAL PROCS BECAUSE I NEED TO BACK THE PF UP BY CLOSE MONITORING OF ALT. IN THIS CASE I WAS PERFORMING MY NORMAL PROCS AND DIDN'T MONITOR CLOSE ENOUGH. A BETTER TECHNIQUE IS TO REACH YOUR ALT A FEW MI EARLY SO ONE OR THE OTHER OR BOTH PLTS DON'T HAVE TO DEVIATE FROM THEIR NORMAL PROCS IN ORDER TO BE SURE TO MAKE THE ASSIGNED XING RESTR.

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.