Captain receiving IOE failed to make crossing altitude due to a misunderstanding of the location of ...

Attributes
ACN	455839
Time
Date	199911
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
State Reference	MO
Altitude	msl single value : 15000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zkc.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	descent : vacating altitude
Route In Use	arrival star : trake.trake8
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain observation : company check pilot oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 12000 flight time type : 1200
ASRS Report	455839
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 8500 flight time type : 1700
ASRS Report	456280
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	controller : issued alert none taken : anomaly accepted other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Started descent late to cross kayla arc at 15000 ft. Had programmed computer to cross kayla (a fix 10 mi west of ftz) at 15000 ft. Were cleared to proceed direct ftz. Were given several altitudes and were in a descent when we were told to cross kayla or kayla arc (both are defined on the trake arrival) at 15000 ft. I set 15000 ft in MCP and PF acknowledged the new altitude. I then diverted my attention to dealing with a problem with a passenger. The descent continued. Finally, the controller asked if we would make our altitude restr. My PF stated no problem. Realizing there was a reason ATC was asking, I looked closely at the navigation system and noted we were 1 mi from the kayla fix passing 17100 ft. The fix on the MCP was ftz. We expedited descent. ATC said we needed to be below 17000 ft, which we were and so reported. PF stated he was not aware the restr was at kayla. Corrective action: must ensure that when given a clearance, that all navigation system are properly set and the clearance is fully understood by both pilots.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CAPT RECEIVING IOE FAILED TO MAKE XING ALT DUE TO A MISUNDERSTANDING OF THE LOCATION OF THE ACTUAL FIX.

Narrative: STARTED DSCNT LATE TO CROSS KAYLA ARC AT 15000 FT. HAD PROGRAMMED COMPUTER TO CROSS KAYLA (A FIX 10 MI W OF FTZ) AT 15000 FT. WERE CLRED TO PROCEED DIRECT FTZ. WERE GIVEN SEVERAL ALTS AND WERE IN A DSCNT WHEN WE WERE TOLD TO CROSS KAYLA OR KAYLA ARC (BOTH ARE DEFINED ON THE TRAKE ARR) AT 15000 FT. I SET 15000 FT IN MCP AND PF ACKNOWLEDGED THE NEW ALT. I THEN DIVERTED MY ATTN TO DEALING WITH A PROB WITH A PAX. THE DSCNT CONTINUED. FINALLY, THE CTLR ASKED IF WE WOULD MAKE OUR ALT RESTR. MY PF STATED NO PROB. REALIZING THERE WAS A REASON ATC WAS ASKING, I LOOKED CLOSELY AT THE NAV SYS AND NOTED WE WERE 1 MI FROM THE KAYLA FIX PASSING 17100 FT. THE FIX ON THE MCP WAS FTZ. WE EXPEDITED DSCNT. ATC SAID WE NEEDED TO BE BELOW 17000 FT, WHICH WE WERE AND SO RPTED. PF STATED HE WAS NOT AWARE THE RESTR WAS AT KAYLA. CORRECTIVE ACTION: MUST ENSURE THAT WHEN GIVEN A CLRNC, THAT ALL NAV SYS ARE PROPERLY SET AND THE CLRNC IS FULLY UNDERSTOOD BY BOTH PLTS.

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.

Captain receiving IOE failed to make crossing altitude due to a misunderstanding of the location of the actual fix.