An air carrier flight crew improperly programs FMC and deviates from altitude crossing restr.

Attributes
ACN	430175
Time
Date	199903
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : mol.vor
State Reference	VA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 33000 msl bound upper : 37000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other vortac
Flight Phase	descent : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	enroute airway : j42.airway
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 11000 flight time type : 140
ASRS Report	430175
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : multi engine pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 90 flight time total : 6000 flight time type : 90
ASRS Report	430770
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : became reoriented
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Approximately 80 mi west of mol VOR on J42 we were given a clearance to cross 30 mi west of mol at FL330. An intersection was made in the FMC VOR 30 mi from mol and the altitude of FL330 was placed on that intersection. As we approached 30 mi west of mol, ATC asked if we could make the crossing restr, and we could not make the restr because the FMC was set to cross mol at FL330. We asked for and received a vector off the airway so we could descend to FL330. The altitude restr had been placed on the wrong line in the FMC. ATC cleared us to descend to FL330. As we were passing through FL337 ATC told us to level at FL350. We advised we would have to climb back up to FL350. We were cleared to climb to FL350 and given a l-hand box vector to get us back to 30 mi west of mol and cleared to cross 30 mi west at FL330.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN ACR FLC IMPROPERLY PROGRAMS FMC AND DEVIATES FROM ALT XING RESTR.

Narrative: APPROX 80 MI W OF MOL VOR ON J42 WE WERE GIVEN A CLRNC TO CROSS 30 MI W OF MOL AT FL330. AN INTXN WAS MADE IN THE FMC VOR 30 MI FROM MOL AND THE ALT OF FL330 WAS PLACED ON THAT INTXN. AS WE APCHED 30 MI W OF MOL, ATC ASKED IF WE COULD MAKE THE XING RESTR, AND WE COULD NOT MAKE THE RESTR BECAUSE THE FMC WAS SET TO CROSS MOL AT FL330. WE ASKED FOR AND RECEIVED A VECTOR OFF THE AIRWAY SO WE COULD DSND TO FL330. THE ALT RESTR HAD BEEN PLACED ON THE WRONG LINE IN THE FMC. ATC CLRED US TO DSND TO FL330. AS WE WERE PASSING THROUGH FL337 ATC TOLD US TO LEVEL AT FL350. WE ADVISED WE WOULD HAVE TO CLB BACK UP TO FL350. WE WERE CLRED TO CLB TO FL350 AND GIVEN A L-HAND BOX VECTOR TO GET US BACK TO 30 MI W OF MOL AND CLRED TO CROSS 30 MI W AT FL330.

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.