Flight crew of an medium large transport undershot a crossing altitude on descent.

Attributes
ACN	364260
Time
Date	199703
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : fqm
State Reference	PA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 18000 msl bound upper : 28000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zny
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
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	other other : other pilot : atp pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 240 flight time total : 13000 flight time type : 7000
ASRS Report	364260
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met altitude deviation : undershoot non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Title this one 'ATC must think we're a couple of clowns' (and maybe they're right). Given a clearance to cross a fix at FL180, we got distraction by conversation, inattn, etc, when ATC called to ask us if we were going to make it (10000 ft to lose, 8 mi to go). No way, jose. ATC didn't sound pleased that we forgot to descend, but gave a vector off airway to complete our descent. We started down and soon ATC directed us back to intercept the airway. As the first officer was flying, I went to company frequency to make a required in- range call. While I was off ATC frequency, the first officer made another turn away from the airway. He told me we were on a vector. About 1 min later, ATC (yes, the same guy we impressed with our lack of descent planning) asked us where we were going and why. Apparently he had not given the first officer a vector away from the airway. Oops -- embarrassing error #2. This job requires constant vigilance -- I should know that.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLC OF AN MLG UNDERSHOT A XING ALT ON DSCNT.

Narrative: TITLE THIS ONE 'ATC MUST THINK WE'RE A COUPLE OF CLOWNS' (AND MAYBE THEY'RE RIGHT). GIVEN A CLRNC TO CROSS A FIX AT FL180, WE GOT DISTR BY CONVERSATION, INATTN, ETC, WHEN ATC CALLED TO ASK US IF WE WERE GOING TO MAKE IT (10000 FT TO LOSE, 8 MI TO GO). NO WAY, JOSE. ATC DIDN'T SOUND PLEASED THAT WE FORGOT TO DSND, BUT GAVE A VECTOR OFF AIRWAY TO COMPLETE OUR DSCNT. WE STARTED DOWN AND SOON ATC DIRECTED US BACK TO INTERCEPT THE AIRWAY. AS THE FO WAS FLYING, I WENT TO COMPANY FREQ TO MAKE A REQUIRED IN- RANGE CALL. WHILE I WAS OFF ATC FREQ, THE FO MADE ANOTHER TURN AWAY FROM THE AIRWAY. HE TOLD ME WE WERE ON A VECTOR. ABOUT 1 MIN LATER, ATC (YES, THE SAME GUY WE IMPRESSED WITH OUR LACK OF DSCNT PLANNING) ASKED US WHERE WE WERE GOING AND WHY. APPARENTLY HE HAD NOT GIVEN THE FO A VECTOR AWAY FROM THE AIRWAY. OOPS -- EMBARRASSING ERROR #2. THIS JOB REQUIRES CONSTANT VIGILANCE -- I SHOULD KNOW THAT.

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.