An S80 PIC misreads his navigation display and fails to make an altitude crossing restr 10 mi east o...

Attributes
ACN	493539
Time
Date	200011
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : etg.vortac
State Reference	PA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 28000 msl bound upper : 28500
Environment
Weather Elements	other
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zny.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-80 Super 80
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	cruise : level cruise : enroute altitude change descent : vacating altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
ASRS Report	493539
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : multi engine
ASRS Report	493540
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : undershoot altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	atc equipment other atc equipment : radar other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued advisory none taken : insufficient time
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft Environmental Factor Flight Crew Human Performance Weather
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Location etg VOR. We were given a descent clearance from FL330 to FL290 10 mi east of etg. We had a 72 KT tailwind, with the clearance being given at 28 mi west of etg. My navigation display was on the 80 mi scale, so a glance at the navigation display showed about 80 mi to the next fix. I mistakenly thought etg, so figured I had 40 mi or so to start my descent. A few mins later, center asked if we were going to make FL290 10 mi east of etg. That's when I realized my mistake. We immediately began the descent, crossing 11.5 mi east of etg VOR. We did not observe any other traffic in the vicinity on the TCASII on 40 mi range. Supplemental information from acn 493540: I reset the altitude alerter window to FL290 and advised the captain we were outside the 3 to 1 rule. I then busied myself with looking at the rest of the arrival, approach, and airfield diagram. I did not notice we had not descended until ATC asked if we would make the altitude in 1 min remaining.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN S80 PIC MISREADS HIS NAV DISPLAY AND FAILS TO MAKE AN ALT XING RESTR 10 MI E OF ETG, PA.

Narrative: LOCATION ETG VOR. WE WERE GIVEN A DSCNT CLRNC FROM FL330 TO FL290 10 MI E OF ETG. WE HAD A 72 KT TAILWIND, WITH THE CLRNC BEING GIVEN AT 28 MI W OF ETG. MY NAV DISPLAY WAS ON THE 80 MI SCALE, SO A GLANCE AT THE NAV DISPLAY SHOWED ABOUT 80 MI TO THE NEXT FIX. I MISTAKENLY THOUGHT ETG, SO FIGURED I HAD 40 MI OR SO TO START MY DSCNT. A FEW MINS LATER, CTR ASKED IF WE WERE GOING TO MAKE FL290 10 MI E OF ETG. THAT'S WHEN I REALIZED MY MISTAKE. WE IMMEDIATELY BEGAN THE DSCNT, XING 11.5 MI E OF ETG VOR. WE DID NOT OBSERVE ANY OTHER TFC IN THE VICINITY ON THE TCASII ON 40 MI RANGE. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 493540: I RESET THE ALT ALERTER WINDOW TO FL290 AND ADVISED THE CAPT WE WERE OUTSIDE THE 3 TO 1 RULE. I THEN BUSIED MYSELF WITH LOOKING AT THE REST OF THE ARR, APCH, AND AIRFIELD DIAGRAM. I DID NOT NOTICE WE HAD NOT DSNDED UNTIL ATC ASKED IF WE WOULD MAKE THE ALT IN 1 MIN REMAINING.

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.

An S80 PIC misreads his navigation display and fails to make an altitude crossing restr 10 mi east of etg, PA.