A B737-300 flight crew misses crossing restr.

Attributes
ACN	557178
Time
Date	200208
Day	Mon
Place
Locale Reference	intersection : slidr
State Reference	AZ
Altitude	msl bound lower : 29000 msl bound upper : 30500
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-300
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	descent : vacating altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 4000 flight time type : 1200
ASRS Report	557178
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 80 flight time total : 20000 flight time type : 17000
ASRS Report	557180
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

We were cleared to cross slidr at FL290 and told to begin descent. We were below the descent profile so I began a 1000 FPM descent and selected the descent page on the FMS. My plan was to continue at 100 FPM until intercepting the descent profile and then increase the rate of descent as appropriate. As we continued the descent, I switched off the descent page on the FMS to check other information. I did not return to the descent page and began a conversation with the captain. At about 1-2 mi from slide the captain stated 'what altitude are we supposed to be at slidr?' I looked at the progress page and saw we were almost at the point. I lowered the nose and reduced power to increase the rate of descent to about 3500 FPM. We crossed slidr between FL300 and FL305 and continued for an uneventful arrival at phx. I quit paying attention to flying and lost situational awareness. I need to focus on flying especially while waiting to intercept a descent profile.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B737-300 FLC MISSES XING RESTR.

Narrative: WE WERE CLRED TO CROSS SLIDR AT FL290 AND TOLD TO BEGIN DSCNT. WE WERE BELOW THE DSCNT PROFILE SO I BEGAN A 1000 FPM DSCNT AND SELECTED THE DSCNT PAGE ON THE FMS. MY PLAN WAS TO CONTINUE AT 100 FPM UNTIL INTERCEPTING THE DSCNT PROFILE AND THEN INCREASE THE RATE OF DSCNT AS APPROPRIATE. AS WE CONTINUED THE DSCNT, I SWITCHED OFF THE DSCNT PAGE ON THE FMS TO CHK OTHER INFO. I DID NOT RETURN TO THE DSCNT PAGE AND BEGAN A CONVERSATION WITH THE CAPT. AT ABOUT 1-2 MI FROM SLIDE THE CAPT STATED 'WHAT ALT ARE WE SUPPOSED TO BE AT SLIDR?' I LOOKED AT THE PROGRESS PAGE AND SAW WE WERE ALMOST AT THE POINT. I LOWERED THE NOSE AND REDUCED PWR TO INCREASE THE RATE OF DSCNT TO ABOUT 3500 FPM. WE CROSSED SLIDR BTWN FL300 AND FL305 AND CONTINUED FOR AN UNEVENTFUL ARR AT PHX. I QUIT PAYING ATTN TO FLYING AND LOST SITUATIONAL AWARENESS. I NEED TO FOCUS ON FLYING ESPECIALLY WHILE WAITING TO INTERCEPT A DSCNT PROFILE.

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.