A BE400 cpr jet fails to make the altitude crossing restr 26 mi southeast of the eagle VOR.

Attributes
ACN	428120
Time
Date	199902
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : dbl.vor
State Reference	CO
Altitude	msl bound lower : 17000 msl bound upper : 18000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Weather Elements	Turbulence
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdv.artcc
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Beechjet 400
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	other other vortac
Flight Phase	descent : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	arrival other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : corporate
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : multi engine
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 12 flight time total : 6700 flight time type : 300
ASRS Report	428120
Person 2
Affiliation	company : corporate
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met altitude deviation : undershoot non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : vor, dme, altimeter other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	none taken : insufficient time
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

First officer was flying, descending into aspen, co. ATC instruction was to descend to 17000 ft after a series of step-downs. ATC then instructed us (we were roughly at FL240) to cross 26 DME southeast of dbl VOR at 17000 ft, if able. I repeated the clearance with a 'we'll do our best.' this required a descent rate in excess of 6000 FPM. The 26 DME is a fix on the high chart with no expect to cross altitudes found on a STAR. We did our best, but were about 1000 ft high when we crossed. Center said nothing as he asked us to cross if able and we said we would do our best. It seems ATC may sometimes forget to descend an aircraft to be at a desired altitude at a certain fix without very high rates of descent. There have been numerous occasions where we have asked for lower so as not to have to descend at an uncomfortable rate of descent (for passenger). I realize that this may be necessary sometimes for airspace arrival and departure gates. Occasionally a controller will issue a descent clearance to a lower altitude with an expect to cross a fix at a given altitude. This helps pilots with descent planning.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A BE400 CPR JET FAILS TO MAKE THE ALT XING RESTR 26 MI SE OF THE EAGLE VOR.

Narrative: FO WAS FLYING, DSNDING INTO ASPEN, CO. ATC INSTRUCTION WAS TO DSND TO 17000 FT AFTER A SERIES OF STEP-DOWNS. ATC THEN INSTRUCTED US (WE WERE ROUGHLY AT FL240) TO CROSS 26 DME SE OF DBL VOR AT 17000 FT, IF ABLE. I REPEATED THE CLRNC WITH A 'WE'LL DO OUR BEST.' THIS REQUIRED A DSCNT RATE IN EXCESS OF 6000 FPM. THE 26 DME IS A FIX ON THE HIGH CHART WITH NO EXPECT TO CROSS ALTS FOUND ON A STAR. WE DID OUR BEST, BUT WERE ABOUT 1000 FT HIGH WHEN WE CROSSED. CTR SAID NOTHING AS HE ASKED US TO CROSS IF ABLE AND WE SAID WE WOULD DO OUR BEST. IT SEEMS ATC MAY SOMETIMES FORGET TO DSND AN ACFT TO BE AT A DESIRED ALT AT A CERTAIN FIX WITHOUT VERY HIGH RATES OF DSCNT. THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS OCCASIONS WHERE WE HAVE ASKED FOR LOWER SO AS NOT TO HAVE TO DSND AT AN UNCOMFORTABLE RATE OF DSCNT (FOR PAX). I REALIZE THAT THIS MAY BE NECESSARY SOMETIMES FOR AIRSPACE ARR AND DEP GATES. OCCASIONALLY A CTLR WILL ISSUE A DSCNT CLRNC TO A LOWER ALT WITH AN EXPECT TO CROSS A FIX AT A GIVEN ALT. THIS HELPS PLTS WITH DSCNT PLANNING.

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.