B727 crew did not comply with a descent crossing issued by ZDV.

Attributes
ACN	497000
Time
Date	200101
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : fqf.vortac
State Reference	CO
Altitude	msl single value : 11000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdv.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B727 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : vacating altitude
Route In Use	arrival : on vectors arrival star : sayge
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 120 flight time total : 8700 flight time type : 4000
ASRS Report	497000
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	none taken : insufficient time
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Vector given by ZDV to join fqf 308 degree radial on sayge arrival to dia, to cross sayge intersection at 11000 ft. Depended on GPS distance information to sayge intersection, but cumulative distance read 86 NM. In reality we were 13 mi from the fix and could not make the crossing restr at 11000 ft. DME from fqf was 60 DME and the sayge fix was 47 DME. Should have crosschecked DME closer. When vectored off the arrival the GPS cumulative distance was wrong and contributed to the position problem. Suggest ZDV not vector aircraft off the sayge 3 arrival to join a radial/DME fix, even though the fix is depicted on the arrival. Cumulative GPS distance information should be crosschecked by crew, but it becomes advisory only when off of the arrival routing.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B727 CREW DID NOT COMPLY WITH A DSCNT XING ISSUED BY ZDV.

Narrative: VECTOR GIVEN BY ZDV TO JOIN FQF 308 DEG RADIAL ON SAYGE ARR TO DIA, TO CROSS SAYGE INTXN AT 11000 FT. DEPENDED ON GPS DISTANCE INFO TO SAYGE INTXN, BUT CUMULATIVE DISTANCE READ 86 NM. IN REALITY WE WERE 13 MI FROM THE FIX AND COULD NOT MAKE THE XING RESTR AT 11000 FT. DME FROM FQF WAS 60 DME AND THE SAYGE FIX WAS 47 DME. SHOULD HAVE XCHKED DME CLOSER. WHEN VECTORED OFF THE ARR THE GPS CUMULATIVE DISTANCE WAS WRONG AND CONTRIBUTED TO THE POS PROB. SUGGEST ZDV NOT VECTOR ACFT OFF THE SAYGE 3 ARR TO JOIN A RADIAL/DME FIX, EVEN THOUGH THE FIX IS DEPICTED ON THE ARR. CUMULATIVE GPS DISTANCE INFO SHOULD BE XCHKED BY CREW, BUT IT BECOMES ADVISORY ONLY WHEN OFF OF THE ARR ROUTING.

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.