An air carrier B727 crew failed to make its crossing restr with excuses.

Attributes
ACN	355630
Time
Date	199612
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : bal
State Reference	MD
Altitude	msl bound lower : 12000 msl bound upper : 14000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zny
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	arrival other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 19000 flight time type : 10000
ASRS Report	355360
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 22000 flight time type : 7000
ASRS Report	355627
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : undershoot altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met 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 cleared to cross 25 DME north of balance at 12000 ft. Normally, this restr is at the 15 DME. We were in light to moderate chop at the time, so we began the descent earlier than normal. Finding smooth air, the descent was slowed to catch up with a normal descent. The wake-up call came when the center said 'turn right to 300 degrees to make the restr.' we were about 14000 ft and just about the 25 DME. Supplemental information from acn 355627: the standard descent clearance is to cross 15 NM northeast of balance at 12000 ft. This day the clearance was 25 mi northeast of balance at 12000 ft. The captain had just begun to eat a sandwich. I tuned the balance ATIS to double-check it. There was a 20 KT tailwind. Supplemental information from acn 355628: all 3 of us were distraction by something, either a tailwind, different crossing restr, radio calls, etc.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN ACR B727 CREW FAILED TO MAKE ITS XING RESTR WITH EXCUSES.

Narrative: WE WERE CLRED TO CROSS 25 DME N OF BAL AT 12000 FT. NORMALLY, THIS RESTR IS AT THE 15 DME. WE WERE IN LIGHT TO MODERATE CHOP AT THE TIME, SO WE BEGAN THE DSCNT EARLIER THAN NORMAL. FINDING SMOOTH AIR, THE DSCNT WAS SLOWED TO CATCH UP WITH A NORMAL DSCNT. THE WAKE-UP CALL CAME WHEN THE CTR SAID 'TURN R TO 300 DEGS TO MAKE THE RESTR.' WE WERE ABOUT 14000 FT AND JUST ABOUT THE 25 DME. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 355627: THE STANDARD DSCNT CLRNC IS TO CROSS 15 NM NE OF BAL AT 12000 FT. THIS DAY THE CLRNC WAS 25 MI NE OF BAL AT 12000 FT. THE CAPT HAD JUST BEGUN TO EAT A SANDWICH. I TUNED THE BAL ATIS TO DOUBLE-CHK IT. THERE WAS A 20 KT TAILWIND. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 355628: ALL 3 OF US WERE DISTR BY SOMETHING, EITHER A TAILWIND, DIFFERENT XING RESTR, RADIO CALLS, ETC.

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.