Air carrier captain reported that he and first officer were distraction by the flight attendant's report of a cabin problem which caused them to start their descent late, resulting in an undershoot of their altitude.

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Attributes
ACN	453940
Time
Date	199911
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	intersection : uz10
Altitude	msl bound lower : 25000 msl bound upper : 25700
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise : enroute altitude change
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 300 flight time total : 19000 flight time type : 6000
ASRS Report	453940
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : multi engine pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : undershoot altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met non adherence : clearance non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : insufficient time
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Cabin Crew Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

We were given a crossing restr of FL250. First officer and I had discussed when we would start down. 2 mins before descent, the flight attendant came into the cockpit to discuss a problem in the cabin. After we talked to her for several mins we looked to notice we were high for our descent. We made a maximum effort dive but missed our altitude of FL250 by 700 ft high. We could have avoided this if one of us -- not both -- had gotten involved with the discussion with the flight attendant.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR CAPT RPTED THAT HE AND FO WERE DISTR BY THE FLT ATTENDANT'S RPT OF A CABIN PROB WHICH CAUSED THEM TO START THEIR DSCNT LATE, RESULTING IN AN UNDERSHOOT OF THEIR ALT.

Narrative: WE WERE GIVEN A XING RESTR OF FL250. FO AND I HAD DISCUSSED WHEN WE WOULD START DOWN. 2 MINS BEFORE DSCNT, THE FLT ATTENDANT CAME INTO THE COCKPIT TO DISCUSS A PROB IN THE CABIN. AFTER WE TALKED TO HER FOR SEVERAL MINS WE LOOKED TO NOTICE WE WERE HIGH FOR OUR DSCNT. WE MADE A MAX EFFORT DIVE BUT MISSED OUR ALT OF FL250 BY 700 FT HIGH. WE COULD HAVE AVOIDED THIS IF ONE OF US -- NOT BOTH -- HAD GOTTEN INVOLVED WITH THE DISCUSSION WITH THE FLT ATTENDANT.

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.