Air carrier flight crew misses altitude restr given them by ARTCC while on a STAR.

Attributes
ACN	435940
Time
Date	199904
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : fqm.vor
State Reference	PA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 18000 msl bound upper : 19000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B757 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	descent : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	arrival star : fqm1
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : commercial pilot : cfi pilot : atp pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 221 flight time total : 4500 flight time type : 580
ASRS Report	435940
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : undershoot altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met non adherence : far non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

We were on the fqm 1 arrival into the ewr airport on apr/xa/99. ATC cleared us to cross hayed intersection at FL180. I told the captain (PF) that we were high. He said, 'not a problem we can make it easily.' I agreed and went back to briefing the passenger on our arrival. Then I called company and told them we were in range. When I returned my focus to what the PF was doing, I saw that we were at FL250 with 3 NM to the fix. I brought it to his attention and we crossed at FL190. This was 1000 ft above the assigned restr. The problem arose because the PF did not bother to doublechk, through mental calculation, what the FMC was telling him and the PNF took his attention away from his most important task -- monitoring the PF -- to do menial tasks.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR FLC MISSES ALT RESTR GIVEN THEM BY ARTCC WHILE ON A STAR.

Narrative: WE WERE ON THE FQM 1 ARR INTO THE EWR ARPT ON APR/XA/99. ATC CLRED US TO CROSS HAYED INTXN AT FL180. I TOLD THE CAPT (PF) THAT WE WERE HIGH. HE SAID, 'NOT A PROB WE CAN MAKE IT EASILY.' I AGREED AND WENT BACK TO BRIEFING THE PAX ON OUR ARR. THEN I CALLED COMPANY AND TOLD THEM WE WERE IN RANGE. WHEN I RETURNED MY FOCUS TO WHAT THE PF WAS DOING, I SAW THAT WE WERE AT FL250 WITH 3 NM TO THE FIX. I BROUGHT IT TO HIS ATTN AND WE CROSSED AT FL190. THIS WAS 1000 FT ABOVE THE ASSIGNED RESTR. THE PROB AROSE BECAUSE THE PF DID NOT BOTHER TO DOUBLECHK, THROUGH MENTAL CALCULATION, WHAT THE FMC WAS TELLING HIM AND THE PNF TOOK HIS ATTN AWAY FROM HIS MOST IMPORTANT TASK -- MONITORING THE PF -- TO DO MENIAL TASKS.

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.