A B757 flight crew crossed above STAR altitudes on descent to lax.

Attributes
ACN	454813
Time
Date	199911
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : lax.vortac
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 11000 msl bound upper : 16000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zla.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B757 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other other vortac
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	arrival star : civet 4
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 250 flight time total : 4500 flight time type : 2200
ASRS Report	454813
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met non adherence : clearance non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

ATC gave us a 'descend via clearance' which caused a little confusion. We got several speed restrs which made making the assigned altitude difficult. I thought we could make it, but we were a little high at one of the fixes. We were probably within the window. Nothing was said to us (like what's your altitude?). I'm not real happy with the phrase 'descend via.' they told us 'cross civet at or above 14000 ft, descend via civet 4.' seems clear on paper, but add in 100 other radio calls and the normal buzz and it was confusing. I would very much prefer the final altitude be read with the descend via statement, ie, 'cross civet at or above 14000 ft, descend via the civet 4 to 8000 ft.'

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B757 FLC CROSSED ABOVE STAR ALTS ON DSCNT TO LAX.

Narrative: ATC GAVE US A 'DSND VIA CLRNC' WHICH CAUSED A LITTLE CONFUSION. WE GOT SEVERAL SPD RESTRS WHICH MADE MAKING THE ASSIGNED ALT DIFFICULT. I THOUGHT WE COULD MAKE IT, BUT WE WERE A LITTLE HIGH AT ONE OF THE FIXES. WE WERE PROBABLY WITHIN THE WINDOW. NOTHING WAS SAID TO US (LIKE WHAT'S YOUR ALT?). I'M NOT REAL HAPPY WITH THE PHRASE 'DSND VIA.' THEY TOLD US 'CROSS CIVET AT OR ABOVE 14000 FT, DSND VIA CIVET 4.' SEEMS CLR ON PAPER, BUT ADD IN 100 OTHER RADIO CALLS AND THE NORMAL BUZZ AND IT WAS CONFUSING. I WOULD VERY MUCH PREFER THE FINAL ALT BE READ WITH THE DSND VIA STATEMENT, IE, 'CROSS CIVET AT OR ABOVE 14000 FT, DSND VIA THE CIVET 4 TO 8000 FT.'

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.