Crossing restr not met. Reporter faults lack of autoflt use.

Attributes
ACN	475730
Time
Date	200006
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : oxi.vor
State Reference	IL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 25000 msl bound upper : 26000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dawn
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zau.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	A320
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other other vortac
Flight Phase	descent : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 170 flight time total : 6500 flight time type : 2000
ASRS Report	475730
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met altitude deviation : undershoot non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllerb other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

ATC instructed us to cross 25 DME east of oxi VOR at 25000 ft. We were currently at our cruise altitude of FL350 wbound dca-ord. The captain initiated descent in time to make the restr but choose not to use the FMS for guidance (pre-program the crossing restr). We became distracted by a non-routine cockpit duty and missed the restr by approximately 1000 ft. ATC queried us and we expedited down to FL250. I feel that if the captain had used the tools available to him (autoplt, FMS) we would have made the restr despite the distraction. In the future, I will be much more vigilant in such cases and recommend the use of automation, especially under these conditions (early morning, first leg together).

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: XING RESTR NOT MET. RPTR FAULTS LACK OF AUTOFLT USE.

Narrative: ATC INSTRUCTED US TO CROSS 25 DME E OF OXI VOR AT 25000 FT. WE WERE CURRENTLY AT OUR CRUISE ALT OF FL350 WBOUND DCA-ORD. THE CAPT INITIATED DSCNT IN TIME TO MAKE THE RESTR BUT CHOOSE NOT TO USE THE FMS FOR GUIDANCE (PRE-PROGRAM THE XING RESTR). WE BECAME DISTRACTED BY A NON-ROUTINE COCKPIT DUTY AND MISSED THE RESTR BY APPROX 1000 FT. ATC QUERIED US AND WE EXPEDITED DOWN TO FL250. I FEEL THAT IF THE CAPT HAD USED THE TOOLS AVAILABLE TO HIM (AUTOPLT, FMS) WE WOULD HAVE MADE THE RESTR DESPITE THE DISTR. IN THE FUTURE, I WILL BE MUCH MORE VIGILANT IN SUCH CASES AND RECOMMEND THE USE OF AUTOMATION, ESPECIALLY UNDER THESE CONDITIONS (EARLY MORNING, FIRST LEG TOGETHER).

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.