Unanticipated arrival procedure and late runway change distract A319 crew from crossing restriction.

Attributes
ACN	770348
Time
Date	200801
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : den.airport
State Reference	CO
Altitude	msl single value : 17000
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	A319
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 140 flight time total : 17500 flight time type : 4100
ASRS Report	770348
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 170 flight time total : 11000 flight time type : 6500
ASRS Report	770355
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Aircraft ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

Nearing den; we were anticipating clearance for the ramms 5 arrival. In the descent; we were instead cleared to intercept the dvv right 311 (which is basically the same thing) but with no crossing restrictions at that time. During the quick discussion about what this clearance actually meant and setting up for a runway change; I simply did not hear the cross ramms 250 degree/17000 ft transmission. The first officer then alerted me to the altitude restriction and I realized that we would be crossing ramms on speed but approximately 3000 ft high. We informed ATC of this and asked for altitude relief. ATC said no problem and cleared us to 14000 ft. I attribute this error to expecting a standard clearance and getting distracted by both an unexpected arrival instruction and a late runway change. My learned lesson -- be on the alert for clearance; runway changes and stay focused on altitude/speed constraints.supplemental information from acn 770355: although the first officer read back the clearance correctly; the captain (PF) was busy intercepting the radial and may not have heard the full crossing restriction.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: UNANTICIPATED ARRIVAL PROCEDURE AND LATE RWY CHANGE DISTRACT A319 CREW FROM CROSSING RESTRICTION.

Narrative: NEARING DEN; WE WERE ANTICIPATING CLEARANCE FOR THE RAMMS 5 ARRIVAL. IN THE DESCENT; WE WERE INSTEAD CLEARED TO INTERCEPT THE DVV R 311 (WHICH IS BASICALLY THE SAME THING) BUT WITH NO XING RESTRICTIONS AT THAT TIME. DURING THE QUICK DISCUSSION ABOUT WHAT THIS CLEARANCE ACTUALLY MEANT AND SETTING UP FOR A RUNWAY CHANGE; I SIMPLY DID NOT HEAR THE CROSS RAMMS 250 DEG/17000 FT TRANSMISSION. THE FO THEN ALERTED ME TO THE ALT RESTRICTION AND I REALIZED THAT WE WOULD BE CROSSING RAMMS ON SPEED BUT APPROX 3000 FT HIGH. WE INFORMED ATC OF THIS AND ASKED FOR ALT RELIEF. ATC SAID NO PROBLEM AND CLEARED US TO 14000 FT. I ATTRIBUTE THIS ERROR TO EXPECTING A STANDARD CLEARANCE AND GETTING DISTRACTED BY BOTH AN UNEXPECTED ARRIVAL INSTRUCTION AND A LATE RUNWAY CHANGE. MY LEARNED LESSON -- BE ON THE ALERT FOR CLEARANCE; RWY CHANGES AND STAY FOCUSED ON ALT/SPEED CONSTRAINTS.SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 770355: ALTHOUGH THE FO READ BACK THE CLRNC CORRECTLY; THE CAPT (PF) WAS BUSY INTERCEPTING THE RADIAL AND MAY NOT HAVE HEARD THE FULL CROSSING RESTRICTION.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of May 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.