A B737-500 is 2000 ft high crossing the assigned intersection during descent into ZHU, tx, airspace.

Attributes
ACN	396430
Time
Date	199803
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : sbi
State Reference	TX
Altitude	msl bound lower : 10000 msl bound upper : 12000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zhy tower : sjo
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-500
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	arrival other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : commercial pilot : atp pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 175 flight time total : 15000 flight time type : 10000
ASRS Report	396430
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : atp pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 176 flight time total : 23000 flight time type : 11250
ASRS Report	396431
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met non adherence : published procedure non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	atc equipment other atc equipment : unspecified other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : insufficient time
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Was told by ZHU to cross smith intersection at 10000 ft and 250 KTS. Had not programmed computer for 10000 ft but had programmed ILS runway 27 at iah. Computer started aircraft down based on final approach fix altitude which put us 2000 ft high at 300 KTS at smith. Didn't realize I was high until 8 mi outside of smith when ZHU asked if we would make crossing restr. Problem was caused by two of most common causes. Automation complacency on my part, and distraction caused by flight attendant being in cockpit at critical time.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B737-500 IS 2000 FT HIGH XING THE ASSIGNED INTXN DURING DSCNT INTO ZHU, TX, AIRSPACE.

Narrative: WAS TOLD BY ZHU TO CROSS SMITH INTXN AT 10000 FT AND 250 KTS. HAD NOT PROGRAMMED COMPUTER FOR 10000 FT BUT HAD PROGRAMMED ILS RWY 27 AT IAH. COMPUTER STARTED ACFT DOWN BASED ON FINAL APCH FIX ALT WHICH PUT US 2000 FT HIGH AT 300 KTS AT SMITH. DIDN'T REALIZE I WAS HIGH UNTIL 8 MI OUTSIDE OF SMITH WHEN ZHU ASKED IF WE WOULD MAKE XING RESTR. PROB WAS CAUSED BY TWO OF MOST COMMON CAUSES. AUTOMATION COMPLACENCY ON MY PART, AND DISTR CAUSED BY FLT ATTENDANT BEING IN COCKPIT AT CRITICAL TIME.

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.