An MD80 crew accused by ATC of an overshoot on descent.

Attributes
ACN	502840
Time
Date	200102
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl single value : 7000
Environment
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : sct.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-80 Series (DC-9-80) Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other vortac
Flight Phase	descent : vacating altitude
Route In Use	approach : visual arrival other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
ASRS Report	502840
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : published procedure non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

We received a clearance to descend to 7000 ft. About 8600 ft, we were told to cross smo at 7000 ft, then descend and maintain 2500 ft. I planned the descent rate to cross the VOR at 7000 ft and continue the descent. The VOR went to 'off' and the needle swung -- I was crossing at 7000 ft. I made the previously issued turn to 070 degrees and called for flaps 23 degrees in anticipation of any early turn for a visual approach to runway 24R. A few mi past smo VOR, the controller said 'air carrier X, you were instructed to cross smo at 7000 ft and then descend to 2500 ft.' we replied, 'we did.' I believe and 'off' flag and a needle swing is an indication of crossing a VOR. Has something changed that I don't know about?

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN MD80 CREW ACCUSED BY ATC OF AN OVERSHOOT ON DSCNT.

Narrative: WE RECEIVED A CLRNC TO DSND TO 7000 FT. ABOUT 8600 FT, WE WERE TOLD TO CROSS SMO AT 7000 FT, THEN DSND AND MAINTAIN 2500 FT. I PLANNED THE DSCNT RATE TO CROSS THE VOR AT 7000 FT AND CONTINUE THE DSCNT. THE VOR WENT TO 'OFF' AND THE NEEDLE SWUNG -- I WAS XING AT 7000 FT. I MADE THE PREVIOUSLY ISSUED TURN TO 070 DEGS AND CALLED FOR FLAPS 23 DEGS IN ANTICIPATION OF ANY EARLY TURN FOR A VISUAL APCH TO RWY 24R. A FEW MI PAST SMO VOR, THE CTLR SAID 'ACR X, YOU WERE INSTRUCTED TO CROSS SMO AT 7000 FT AND THEN DSND TO 2500 FT.' WE REPLIED, 'WE DID.' I BELIEVE AND 'OFF' FLAG AND A NEEDLE SWING IS AN INDICATION OF XING A VOR. HAS SOMETHING CHANGED THAT I DON'T KNOW ABOUT?

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.