A B767-300 pilot reports a TCAS TA after failing to begin a descent in holding at FL300. Fatigue was...

Attributes
ACN	804766
Time
Date	200809
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : dub.vortac
State Reference	FL
Altitude	msl single value : 30000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : ztl.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B767-300 and 300 ER
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other other vortac
Flight Phase	cruise : holding
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	artcc : ztl.artcc
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 11000 flight time type : 4000
ASRS Report	804766
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : became reoriented
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

In holding at dub at FL300. Given descent to FL250. Updated FMS with altitude 250; selected and executed 'descend now.' thought I saw throttles retard; became distraction; center asked for altitude leaving. We were still at FL300. Center gave us a turn; selected lvl change; and got a TA. Contributing factors: fatigue; return leg from ZZZZ with a 3 man crew. Had been awake for 16 hours. Unable to sleep during break. Company keeps leg just under 12 hours so as to bypass 4TH pilot requirement. Also; family medical situation was also distracting for me. As of yet no official notification of problem.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B767-300 PILOT REPORTS A TCAS TA AFTER FAILING TO BEGIN A DESCENT IN HOLDING AT FL300. FATIGUE WAS AN ISSUE.

Narrative: IN HOLDING AT DUB AT FL300. GIVEN DSCNT TO FL250. UPDATED FMS WITH ALT 250; SELECTED AND EXECUTED 'DSND NOW.' THOUGHT I SAW THROTTLES RETARD; BECAME DISTR; CTR ASKED FOR ALT LEAVING. WE WERE STILL AT FL300. CTR GAVE US A TURN; SELECTED LVL CHANGE; AND GOT A TA. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS: FATIGUE; RETURN LEG FROM ZZZZ WITH A 3 MAN CREW. HAD BEEN AWAKE FOR 16 HRS. UNABLE TO SLEEP DURING BREAK. COMPANY KEEPS LEG JUST UNDER 12 HRS SO AS TO BYPASS 4TH PLT REQUIREMENT. ALSO; FAMILY MEDICAL SITUATION WAS ALSO DISTRACTING FOR ME. AS OF YET NO OFFICIAL NOTIFICATION OF PROB.

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.

A B767-300 pilot reports a TCAS TA after failing to begin a descent in holding at FL300. Fatigue was an issue.