DC9 crew did not make an ATC assigned crossing restr in ZAU class a airspace.

Attributes
ACN	503490
Time
Date	200103
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : fwa.vortac
State Reference	IN
Altitude	msl bound lower : 24000 msl bound upper : 25500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zau.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	DC-9 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other vortac
Flight Phase	descent : vacating altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine pilot : private pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 210 flight time total : 10000
ASRS Report	503490
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met altitude deviation : undershoot non adherence : clearance non adherence : company policies non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other
Independent Detector	atc equipment other atc equipment : radar other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued alert none taken : insufficient time
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

We had a crossing restr of 10 mi west of fwa at FL240. Center came back later and said to comply with the crossing and descend to FL210. The first officer began the original descent so as to comply with the crossing restr. I then turned my attention to my charts. The next thing I heard was ZAU asking us if we were going to make our restr. That was at 8 DME west of fwa at FL255. He had obviously been watching us and knew we had screwed up! We hurried down past FL240 to maintain FL210. I asked the first officer and he was thinking 10 mi east of fwa at FL240 to maintain FL210. I, as the captain, should have been more watchful. The first officer is a very experienced one, and when he initially started the descent, I turned my attention away to the approach charts. I think ZAU could have asked sooner, but obviously there was no conflict with any other aircraft. My conclusion, never assume anything when it comes to an experienced first officer, and be ever vigilant.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: DC9 CREW DID NOT MAKE AN ATC ASSIGNED XING RESTR IN ZAU CLASS A AIRSPACE.

Narrative: WE HAD A XING RESTR OF 10 MI W OF FWA AT FL240. CTR CAME BACK LATER AND SAID TO COMPLY WITH THE XING AND DSND TO FL210. THE FO BEGAN THE ORIGINAL DSCNT SO AS TO COMPLY WITH THE XING RESTR. I THEN TURNED MY ATTN TO MY CHARTS. THE NEXT THING I HEARD WAS ZAU ASKING US IF WE WERE GOING TO MAKE OUR RESTR. THAT WAS AT 8 DME W OF FWA AT FL255. HE HAD OBVIOUSLY BEEN WATCHING US AND KNEW WE HAD SCREWED UP! WE HURRIED DOWN PAST FL240 TO MAINTAIN FL210. I ASKED THE FO AND HE WAS THINKING 10 MI E OF FWA AT FL240 TO MAINTAIN FL210. I, AS THE CAPT, SHOULD HAVE BEEN MORE WATCHFUL. THE FO IS A VERY EXPERIENCED ONE, AND WHEN HE INITIALLY STARTED THE DSCNT, I TURNED MY ATTN AWAY TO THE APCH CHARTS. I THINK ZAU COULD HAVE ASKED SOONER, BUT OBVIOUSLY THERE WAS NO CONFLICT WITH ANY OTHER ACFT. MY CONCLUSION, NEVER ASSUME ANYTHING WHEN IT COMES TO AN EXPERIENCED FO, AND BE EVER VIGILANT.

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.