B737 flight crew become distraction with flight attendant conversation and miss crossing restr.

Attributes
ACN	526987
Time
Date	200110
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : gup.vortac
State Reference	NM
Altitude	msl bound lower : 29000 msl bound upper : 33000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zab.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-300
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other other vortac
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 7000 flight time type : 6500
ASRS Report	526987
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : undershoot altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	atc equipment other atc equipment : radar other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued advisory
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Cabin Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

En route to abq from las. We were on J72 eastbound to gup VOR. At approximately 130 mi from gup VOR, we were given instructions to cross 60 mi west of gup at FL290. We were crossing at FL330. Myself and the first officer (PF) confirmed with each other and confirmed the entry into the FMC. I computed a descent point in my head of 80 mi west of gup to start down. My radio was set to the gup VOR 115.1. Enter into the equation now that the flight attendant comes into the cockpit! As is common, the conversation begins. Both pilots and the flight attendant are conversing. The next radio call from ZAB is something along the lines of 'xxyy looks like you aren't going to make the restr.' this transmission was made to us at 60 mi west of gup. We immediately started descending to FL290. We reached FL290 at 51 mi west of gup. I called out of FL330 for FL290. We then continued normally to our destination of abq.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737 FLC BECOME DISTR WITH FLT ATTENDANT CONVERSATION AND MISS XING RESTR.

Narrative: ENRTE TO ABQ FROM LAS. WE WERE ON J72 EBOUND TO GUP VOR. AT APPROX 130 MI FROM GUP VOR, WE WERE GIVEN INSTRUCTIONS TO CROSS 60 MI W OF GUP AT FL290. WE WERE XING AT FL330. MYSELF AND THE FO (PF) CONFIRMED WITH EACH OTHER AND CONFIRMED THE ENTRY INTO THE FMC. I COMPUTED A DSCNT POINT IN MY HEAD OF 80 MI W OF GUP TO START DOWN. MY RADIO WAS SET TO THE GUP VOR 115.1. ENTER INTO THE EQUATION NOW THAT THE FLT ATTENDANT COMES INTO THE COCKPIT! AS IS COMMON, THE CONVERSATION BEGINS. BOTH PLTS AND THE FLT ATTENDANT ARE CONVERSING. THE NEXT RADIO CALL FROM ZAB IS SOMETHING ALONG THE LINES OF 'XXYY LOOKS LIKE YOU AREN'T GOING TO MAKE THE RESTR.' THIS XMISSION WAS MADE TO US AT 60 MI W OF GUP. WE IMMEDIATELY STARTED DSNDING TO FL290. WE REACHED FL290 AT 51 MI W OF GUP. I CALLED OUT OF FL330 FOR FL290. WE THEN CONTINUED NORMALLY TO OUR DEST OF ABQ.

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.