Narrative:

We were eastbound on J14 at FL330. We were told to cross jaxsn at FL280' by ZDC. I broke my normal habit pattern of staying level until the VNAV (CDU) (or FMC) indicates the start descent point. I started down early, but only used 1000 FPM with the intent of intercepting the VNAV descent eventually. Also, I failed to communicate to the captain my intentions. Due to inattn, I stopped monitoring my position relative to my descent rate. We crossed jaxsn about 2000 ft high, I think. I think the captain failed to back me up because he incorrectly assumed I had it wired because he saw me start down early. I think, subconsciously, I felt the same way. ZDC said nothing about it. Cause: inattn, complacency, conversation in cockpit, and broken habit pattern. How to fix in future: 1) CRM -- communicate intentions better to other pilot so he can better help back me up. 2) be more wary of long conversations. 3) work at fighting complacency harder -- been on the job 2 yrs and starting to get 'too comfortable' in cockpit. Supplemental information from acn 461620: I was changing pubs and correcting a slight wing fuel imbal. I noted earlier that my first officer had commenced his descent to meet the crossing restr. I believed we still had 3-4 mi to reach jaxsn and my first officer said 'I'm high.' I looked at my VOR/DME and discovered that we were approximately 2 mi past jaxsn still about 1700 ft above assigned altitude of FL280. I had the first officer expedite descent and we continued to bwi via assigned routing. I believe I allowed myself to be distraction by a combination of factors, including trying to do too many things at once, and by conversation as well. Extra vigilance and task planning should prevent this from recurring.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR FLC MISSES XING RESTR IN DSCNT AT JAXSN INTXN.

Narrative: WE WERE EBOUND ON J14 AT FL330. WE WERE TOLD TO CROSS JAXSN AT FL280' BY ZDC. I BROKE MY NORMAL HABIT PATTERN OF STAYING LEVEL UNTIL THE VNAV (CDU) (OR FMC) INDICATES THE START DSCNT POINT. I STARTED DOWN EARLY, BUT ONLY USED 1000 FPM WITH THE INTENT OF INTERCEPTING THE VNAV DSCNT EVENTUALLY. ALSO, I FAILED TO COMMUNICATE TO THE CAPT MY INTENTIONS. DUE TO INATTN, I STOPPED MONITORING MY POS RELATIVE TO MY DSCNT RATE. WE CROSSED JAXSN ABOUT 2000 FT HIGH, I THINK. I THINK THE CAPT FAILED TO BACK ME UP BECAUSE HE INCORRECTLY ASSUMED I HAD IT WIRED BECAUSE HE SAW ME START DOWN EARLY. I THINK, SUBCONSCIOUSLY, I FELT THE SAME WAY. ZDC SAID NOTHING ABOUT IT. CAUSE: INATTN, COMPLACENCY, CONVERSATION IN COCKPIT, AND BROKEN HABIT PATTERN. HOW TO FIX IN FUTURE: 1) CRM -- COMMUNICATE INTENTIONS BETTER TO OTHER PLT SO HE CAN BETTER HELP BACK ME UP. 2) BE MORE WARY OF LONG CONVERSATIONS. 3) WORK AT FIGHTING COMPLACENCY HARDER -- BEEN ON THE JOB 2 YRS AND STARTING TO GET 'TOO COMFORTABLE' IN COCKPIT. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 461620: I WAS CHANGING PUBS AND CORRECTING A SLIGHT WING FUEL IMBAL. I NOTED EARLIER THAT MY FO HAD COMMENCED HIS DSCNT TO MEET THE XING RESTR. I BELIEVED WE STILL HAD 3-4 MI TO REACH JAXSN AND MY FO SAID 'I'M HIGH.' I LOOKED AT MY VOR/DME AND DISCOVERED THAT WE WERE APPROX 2 MI PAST JAXSN STILL ABOUT 1700 FT ABOVE ASSIGNED ALT OF FL280. I HAD THE FO EXPEDITE DSCNT AND WE CONTINUED TO BWI VIA ASSIGNED ROUTING. I BELIEVE I ALLOWED MYSELF TO BE DISTR BY A COMBINATION OF FACTORS, INCLUDING TRYING TO DO TOO MANY THINGS AT ONCE, AND BY CONVERSATION AS WELL. EXTRA VIGILANCE AND TASK PLANNING SHOULD PREVENT THIS FROM RECURRING.

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.