B737 flight crew did not comply with ATC assigned crossing restr.

Attributes
ACN	459950
Time
Date	200001
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
State Reference	VA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 27000 msl bound upper : 29000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zid.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-200
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : vacating altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : cfi pilot : commercial pilot : flight engineer pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 6215 flight time type : 875
ASRS Report	459950
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued alert
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

While in cruise flight proceeding direct to the gzg VOR at FL290, ZID assigned us an altitude crossing restr, 'cross 20 mi north of gzg at FL270.' at 22 mi north of the VOR, ATC asked us 'are you going to make 20 mi north of gzg at FL270?' I answered yes, and we immediately began a descent. We realized that we forgot to start our descent soon enough. We reached FL270 12 mi north of gzg VOR. We missed our restr by 8 mi. Identification did not ask us to call them, or that there was any problem. No traffic separation was lost. No TCASII alerts were received. Our attention had been diverted because both the captain and I were preoccupied with a slight airframe vibration. We were trying to diagnose the vibration and forgot to begin our descent early enough to meet the crossing restr.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737 FLC DID NOT COMPLY WITH ATC ASSIGNED XING RESTR.

Narrative: WHILE IN CRUISE FLT PROCEEDING DIRECT TO THE GZG VOR AT FL290, ZID ASSIGNED US AN ALT XING RESTR, 'CROSS 20 MI N OF GZG AT FL270.' AT 22 MI N OF THE VOR, ATC ASKED US 'ARE YOU GOING TO MAKE 20 MI N OF GZG AT FL270?' I ANSWERED YES, AND WE IMMEDIATELY BEGAN A DSCNT. WE REALIZED THAT WE FORGOT TO START OUR DSCNT SOON ENOUGH. WE REACHED FL270 12 MI N OF GZG VOR. WE MISSED OUR RESTR BY 8 MI. ID DID NOT ASK US TO CALL THEM, OR THAT THERE WAS ANY PROB. NO TFC SEPARATION WAS LOST. NO TCASII ALERTS WERE RECEIVED. OUR ATTN HAD BEEN DIVERTED BECAUSE BOTH THE CAPT AND I WERE PREOCCUPIED WITH A SLIGHT AIRFRAME VIBRATION. WE WERE TRYING TO DIAGNOSE THE VIBRATION AND FORGOT TO BEGIN OUR DSCNT EARLY ENOUGH TO MEET THE XING RESTR.

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.