B737-700 flight crew does not meet a crossing restr inbound to smf.

Attributes
ACN	703764
Time
Date	200607
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	intersection : turlo
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl single value : 24000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zoa.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-700
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	descent : intermediate altitude descent : approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial
ASRS Report	703764
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : overrode automation
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Aircraft
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

While in cruise at FL360; we were told to expect to cross turlo at FL240. I input that in the FMC. As ATC started stepping us down; we were changing 'cruise altitude' in the FMC. We did not use 'descend now' feature. That turned out to be a mistake. As we approached turlo; it became obvious that we were not going to be able to comply with the restr. ATC queried us whether we'll make the restr. We responded that we were not able to comply with it. The controller asked if we'd be able to level off at FL240 in 2 mins; which we could and did. We leveled off at FL240 in 1 min. There was no loss of separation; however; this was a very valuable lesson in use of automation -- use 'descend now' feature as opposed to changing 'cruise altitude.'

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737-700 FLT CREW DOES NOT MEET A XING RESTR INBOUND TO SMF.

Narrative: WHILE IN CRUISE AT FL360; WE WERE TOLD TO EXPECT TO CROSS TURLO AT FL240. I INPUT THAT IN THE FMC. AS ATC STARTED STEPPING US DOWN; WE WERE CHANGING 'CRUISE ALT' IN THE FMC. WE DID NOT USE 'DSND NOW' FEATURE. THAT TURNED OUT TO BE A MISTAKE. AS WE APCHED TURLO; IT BECAME OBVIOUS THAT WE WERE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO COMPLY WITH THE RESTR. ATC QUERIED US WHETHER WE'LL MAKE THE RESTR. WE RESPONDED THAT WE WERE NOT ABLE TO COMPLY WITH IT. THE CTLR ASKED IF WE'D BE ABLE TO LEVEL OFF AT FL240 IN 2 MINS; WHICH WE COULD AND DID. WE LEVELED OFF AT FL240 IN 1 MIN. THERE WAS NO LOSS OF SEPARATION; HOWEVER; THIS WAS A VERY VALUABLE LESSON IN USE OF AUTOMATION -- USE 'DSND NOW' FEATURE AS OPPOSED TO CHANGING 'CRUISE ALT.'

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.