Narrative:

On descent into lga, we were given an altitude restr to cross vibes intersection at 13000 ft. We were on autoplt and in a managed descent with navigation engaged for lateral guidance. We monitored the start of the descent and confirmed the restr was showing correctly and that the vertical deviation to the fix was showing '0' meaning it was anticipating making the restr. The last few thousand ft we failed to monitor the descent properly and at vibes intersection we were 800 ft high. I disconnected the autoplt and manually expedited the descent to 13000 ft. I estimate we missed the restr by 1-2 mi. In looking back at the incident, I learned that although automation usually works great, it still requires constant observation to insure it is doing what it should.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN A319 FLT CREW FAILS TO MAKE THE 13000 FT ALT XING RESTR AT VIBES INTXN ON APCH TO LGA, NY.

Narrative: ON DSCNT INTO LGA, WE WERE GIVEN AN ALT RESTR TO CROSS VIBES INTXN AT 13000 FT. WE WERE ON AUTOPLT AND IN A MANAGED DSCNT WITH NAV ENGAGED FOR LATERAL GUIDANCE. WE MONITORED THE START OF THE DSCNT AND CONFIRMED THE RESTR WAS SHOWING CORRECTLY AND THAT THE VERT DEV TO THE FIX WAS SHOWING '0' MEANING IT WAS ANTICIPATING MAKING THE RESTR. THE LAST FEW THOUSAND FT WE FAILED TO MONITOR THE DSCNT PROPERLY AND AT VIBES INTXN WE WERE 800 FT HIGH. I DISCONNECTED THE AUTOPLT AND MANUALLY EXPEDITED THE DSCNT TO 13000 FT. I ESTIMATE WE MISSED THE RESTR BY 1-2 MI. IN LOOKING BACK AT THE INCIDENT, I LEARNED THAT ALTHOUGH AUTOMATION USUALLY WORKS GREAT, IT STILL REQUIRES CONSTANT OBSERVATION TO INSURE IT IS DOING WHAT IT SHOULD.

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.