B733 crew did not monitor FMS and undershot crossing restr.

Attributes
ACN	496950
Time
Date	200101
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	intersection : dalas
State Reference	GA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 14000 msl bound upper : 20000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : atl.tracon tower : cyyz.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-300
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other Other
Flight Phase	descent : vacating altitude
Route In Use	arrival star : rmg.rmg2
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 12000 flight time type : 600
ASRS Report	496950
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 7000 flight time type : 400
ASRS Report	496933
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : undershoot altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met non adherence : published procedure non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Given clearance to cross dalas intersection at 14000 ft. VNAV was programmed appropriately and at 20 DME before programmed top of descent, I started down. At top of descent point, aircraft pitched down as if to descend normally. I went about other duties and noticed at FL300 we were 18 mi from dalas intersection. We crossed at approximately FL200. During the whole exercise, the VNAV indicated all was normal. Closer attention to the descent profile would have alerted me to the inability of VNAV to stay on profile. The presence of a jump seat rider may have contributed to my inattentiveness. Again, closer attention to duties would have prevented this.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B733 CREW DID NOT MONITOR FMS AND UNDERSHOT XING RESTR.

Narrative: GIVEN CLRNC TO CROSS DALAS INTXN AT 14000 FT. VNAV WAS PROGRAMMED APPROPRIATELY AND AT 20 DME BEFORE PROGRAMMED TOP OF DSCNT, I STARTED DOWN. AT TOP OF DSCNT POINT, ACFT PITCHED DOWN AS IF TO DSND NORMALLY. I WENT ABOUT OTHER DUTIES AND NOTICED AT FL300 WE WERE 18 MI FROM DALAS INTXN. WE CROSSED AT APPROX FL200. DURING THE WHOLE EXERCISE, THE VNAV INDICATED ALL WAS NORMAL. CLOSER ATTN TO THE DSCNT PROFILE WOULD HAVE ALERTED ME TO THE INABILITY OF VNAV TO STAY ON PROFILE. THE PRESENCE OF A JUMP SEAT RIDER MAY HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO MY INATTENTIVENESS. AGAIN, CLOSER ATTN TO DUTIES WOULD HAVE PREVENTED THIS.

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.