Narrative:

Within a span of approximately 5-7 mins, we had received 2 cruise descent ATC clrncs: 'descend to FL350' from FL370 and 'descend to FL310' from FL350. Prior to reaching/leveling at FL310, the captain switched off the ATC frequency for the in-range call to the company on #2 radio. While he was off, I received the following clearance from ZLA, 'cross 50 mi northwest of drake at and maintain FL290.' I wrote the clearance down and read it back verbatim. I then began to enter this crossing restr in the legs page on the FMC/CDU. As I was making sure that I had the correct radial/distance/fix information typed into the scratch pad, the captain came back on the #1 radio. I informed him of our clearance, and he recognized that we were already at that crossing restr. The aircraft had leveled off at FL310 because I had not yet entered the crossing restr. ATC inquired about our altitude and captain responded that we weren't going to make it. Controller responded that 'leveling at FL310 was our first mistake.' I engaged vertical speed mode and expedited the descent to FL290. Controller handed us off to ZAB without further discussion, but we could tell he wasn't pleased. As usual, several factors contributed to this deviation. Chief among them was the nature of the clearance to 'cross 50 NM northwest of drake at FL290.' the captain had heard my readback and watched me enter FL290 on the MCP despite being off of that frequency. Based on that, we both agreed we could not have been more than about 55-58 mi from drake when the clearance was issued, and we had not yet even leveled off FL310.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FO OF A B737 FAILED TO MAKE ENRTE ALT XING RESTR DUE TO DELAY IN PROGRAMMING THE ACFT FMC FOR THE NEW ALT.

Narrative: WITHIN A SPAN OF APPROX 5-7 MINS, WE HAD RECEIVED 2 CRUISE DSCNT ATC CLRNCS: 'DSND TO FL350' FROM FL370 AND 'DSND TO FL310' FROM FL350. PRIOR TO REACHING/LEVELING AT FL310, THE CAPT SWITCHED OFF THE ATC FREQ FOR THE IN-RANGE CALL TO THE COMPANY ON #2 RADIO. WHILE HE WAS OFF, I RECEIVED THE FOLLOWING CLRNC FROM ZLA, 'CROSS 50 MI NW OF DRAKE AT AND MAINTAIN FL290.' I WROTE THE CLRNC DOWN AND READ IT BACK VERBATIM. I THEN BEGAN TO ENTER THIS XING RESTR IN THE LEGS PAGE ON THE FMC/CDU. AS I WAS MAKING SURE THAT I HAD THE CORRECT RADIAL/DISTANCE/FIX INFO TYPED INTO THE SCRATCH PAD, THE CAPT CAME BACK ON THE #1 RADIO. I INFORMED HIM OF OUR CLRNC, AND HE RECOGNIZED THAT WE WERE ALREADY AT THAT XING RESTR. THE ACFT HAD LEVELED OFF AT FL310 BECAUSE I HAD NOT YET ENTERED THE XING RESTR. ATC INQUIRED ABOUT OUR ALT AND CAPT RESPONDED THAT WE WEREN'T GOING TO MAKE IT. CTLR RESPONDED THAT 'LEVELING AT FL310 WAS OUR FIRST MISTAKE.' I ENGAGED VERT SPD MODE AND EXPEDITED THE DSCNT TO FL290. CTLR HANDED US OFF TO ZAB WITHOUT FURTHER DISCUSSION, BUT WE COULD TELL HE WASN'T PLEASED. AS USUAL, SEVERAL FACTORS CONTRIBUTED TO THIS DEV. CHIEF AMONG THEM WAS THE NATURE OF THE CLRNC TO 'CROSS 50 NM NW OF DRAKE AT FL290.' THE CAPT HAD HEARD MY READBACK AND WATCHED ME ENTER FL290 ON THE MCP DESPITE BEING OFF OF THAT FREQ. BASED ON THAT, WE BOTH AGREED WE COULD NOT HAVE BEEN MORE THAN ABOUT 55-58 MI FROM DRAKE WHEN THE CLRNC WAS ISSUED, AND WE HAD NOT YET EVEN LEVELED OFF FL310.

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.