B757 flight crew fails to make an altitude crossing restr at hilltop, ca.

Attributes
ACN	521140
Time
Date	200108
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : zla.artcc
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 13000 msl bound upper : 15000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B757 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Flight Phase	descent : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	arrival star : n/s
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine pilot : commercial pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 20 flight time total : 21000 flight time type : 2000
ASRS Report	521140
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met altitude deviation : undershoot non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

ATC issued a descent to cross hilltop at 13000 ft. I diverted my attention to review the STAR. While my attention was on the review of the STAR, the aircraft MCP put the aircraft into an 'altitude hold' mode. After the review of the STAR and completion of a checklist, I noticed the altitude hold. I started a descent and the PNF advised ATC we might not make the crossing altitude. ATC acknowledged, gave us an unrestr descent and clearance for a visual approach.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B757 FLT CREW FAILS TO MAKE AN ALT XING RESTR AT HILLTOP, CA.

Narrative: ATC ISSUED A DSCNT TO CROSS HILLTOP AT 13000 FT. I DIVERTED MY ATTN TO REVIEW THE STAR. WHILE MY ATTN WAS ON THE REVIEW OF THE STAR, THE ACFT MCP PUT THE ACFT INTO AN 'ALT HOLD' MODE. AFTER THE REVIEW OF THE STAR AND COMPLETION OF A CHKLIST, I NOTICED THE ALT HOLD. I STARTED A DSCNT AND THE PNF ADVISED ATC WE MIGHT NOT MAKE THE XING ALT. ATC ACKNOWLEDGED, GAVE US AN UNRESTR DSCNT AND CLRNC FOR A VISUAL APCH.

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.