B727-200 crew unable to make a published crossing restr.

Attributes
ACN	517150
Time
Date	200109
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : zab.artcc
State Reference	NM
Altitude	msl single value : 12000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B727-200
Flight Phase	descent : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : second officer
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 23 flight time total : 2800 flight time type : 23
ASRS Report	517150
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met non adherence : required legal separation
Resolutory Action	controller : separated traffic controller : issued new clearance
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

Flight was cleared for descent with a crossing restr of 12000 ft at mazat (as told to expect on the plate). I looked at our location and the fix. The captain and first officer were discussing the descent, so I went back to the flight engineer panel to finish descent preparation. As we approached the fix, it became questionable whether we would make the crossing restr. The rate of descent was increased and center was informed that it was going to be close. We were vectored off the arrival for an uneventful 360 degree turn to resume the arrival. Next time, I will take the time to listen to, and doublechk, the front seat crew.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B727-200 CREW UNABLE TO MAKE A PUBLISHED XING RESTR.

Narrative: FLT WAS CLRED FOR DSCNT WITH A XING RESTR OF 12000 FT AT MAZAT (AS TOLD TO EXPECT ON THE PLATE). I LOOKED AT OUR LOCATION AND THE FIX. THE CAPT AND FO WERE DISCUSSING THE DSCNT, SO I WENT BACK TO THE FE PANEL TO FINISH DSCNT PREPARATION. AS WE APCHED THE FIX, IT BECAME QUESTIONABLE WHETHER WE WOULD MAKE THE XING RESTR. THE RATE OF DSCNT WAS INCREASED AND CTR WAS INFORMED THAT IT WAS GOING TO BE CLOSE. WE WERE VECTORED OFF THE ARR FOR AN UNEVENTFUL 360 DEG TURN TO RESUME THE ARR. NEXT TIME, I WILL TAKE THE TIME TO LISTEN TO, AND DOUBLECHK, THE FRONT SEAT CREW.

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.