Air carrier flight crew unable to meet crossing restr on arrival to smf, ca.

Attributes
ACN	423701
Time
Date	199812
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : smf
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 24000 msl bound upper : 27000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	arrival other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 240 flight time total : 25000 flight time type : 21000
ASRS Report	423701
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met altitude deviation : undershoot non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other
Independent Detector	atc equipment other atc equipment : unspecified other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

On wraps 5 arrival to smf, cleared to cross turlo intersection at FL240. Expected the clearance and entered into FMC. Navigating using LNAV, VNAV not available on our aircraft. 2 reasons for the late descent to make the crossing. 1) last leg of 7 hour 50 min scheduled day with a 1 hour ATC/WX ground hold to start the day. 2) distraction with flight attendants serving beverages. ZOA noticed our late descent and inquired about our ability to make the crossing. We stated 'it will be tight but we will try our best.' he then gave us relief to cross turlo below FL270 to maintain FL240. Passing FL270, controller gave turn to 260 degree heading. Started turn at the same time leveling FL240 as we crossed turlo. At this time I resumed on course making the wrong assumption heading was given because controller did not think we would make restrs. Wrong assumption -- should have flown as directed. It has always been my policy to follow all ATC directions exactly and for some reason I made this wrong assumption. Must stay alert on long days and pay attention to business.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR FLC UNABLE TO MEET XING RESTR ON ARR TO SMF, CA.

Narrative: ON WRAPS 5 ARR TO SMF, CLRED TO CROSS TURLO INTXN AT FL240. EXPECTED THE CLRNC AND ENTERED INTO FMC. NAVING USING LNAV, VNAV NOT AVAILABLE ON OUR ACFT. 2 REASONS FOR THE LATE DSCNT TO MAKE THE XING. 1) LAST LEG OF 7 HR 50 MIN SCHEDULED DAY WITH A 1 HR ATC/WX GND HOLD TO START THE DAY. 2) DISTR WITH FLT ATTENDANTS SERVING BEVERAGES. ZOA NOTICED OUR LATE DSCNT AND INQUIRED ABOUT OUR ABILITY TO MAKE THE XING. WE STATED 'IT WILL BE TIGHT BUT WE WILL TRY OUR BEST.' HE THEN GAVE US RELIEF TO CROSS TURLO BELOW FL270 TO MAINTAIN FL240. PASSING FL270, CTLR GAVE TURN TO 260 DEG HDG. STARTED TURN AT THE SAME TIME LEVELING FL240 AS WE CROSSED TURLO. AT THIS TIME I RESUMED ON COURSE MAKING THE WRONG ASSUMPTION HDG WAS GIVEN BECAUSE CTLR DID NOT THINK WE WOULD MAKE RESTRS. WRONG ASSUMPTION -- SHOULD HAVE FLOWN AS DIRECTED. IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN MY POLICY TO FOLLOW ALL ATC DIRECTIONS EXACTLY AND FOR SOME REASON I MADE THIS WRONG ASSUMPTION. MUST STAY ALERT ON LONG DAYS AND PAY ATTN TO BUSINESS.

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.