Narrative:

In preparation for descent into san; the FMC was programmed for the baret four arrival and the localizer runway 27. A visual approach was briefed with a localizer backup since the WX was suitable for a visual approach. The FMC had a route discontinuity between swatt (the end point on the baret arrival) and the localizer runway 27 approach waypoints. Near baret; socal cleared us direct to vydda. I typed vydda at the top of the legs page; confirmed with the first officer; and executed it. After putting vydda at the top on the FMC; I cleaned up the rest of the legs on the approach. Swatt was shown on the FMC and I deleted since it is no longer on the approach. The next point shown on the FMC for the approach was cijhi. I failed to notice that okain was not shown on the FMC legs page for the approach; and I missed reading the crossing restr of 3600 ft at okain on the approach plate. We were subsequently cleared to cross vydda at 4000 ft; and cleared for the localizer to runway 27. After leveling at 4000 ft and believing that cijhi was the next point on the approach; I directed the first officer to set 2400 ft. This was what I believed to be the next step-down altitude on the FMC. After crossing vydda at 4000 ft I began a descent to 2400 ft. We broke out of the clouds shortly after beginning the descent. At approximately 12 DME on final; approach control called us with a low altitude alert and asked if we were VMC. We confirmed that we were VMC and he then reminded us that the crossing altitude back at okain was 3600 ft. We continued the approach to landing. I need to be more meticulous about programming the FMC; especially on an approach which has been recently changed. I also need to be absolutely sure that the first officer agrees with any changes I make in the FMC.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN AIR CARRIER CREW MISSED THE OKAIN ALTITUDE RESTRICTION ON THE SAN LOC 27 APCH PROGRAMMING THE FMC TRANSITION FROM THE BARET 4 TO THE APPROACH.

Narrative: IN PREPARATION FOR DSCNT INTO SAN; THE FMC WAS PROGRAMMED FOR THE BARET FOUR ARR AND THE LOC RWY 27. A VISUAL APCH WAS BRIEFED WITH A LOC BACKUP SINCE THE WX WAS SUITABLE FOR A VISUAL APCH. THE FMC HAD A RTE DISCONTINUITY BTWN SWATT (THE END POINT ON THE BARET ARR) AND THE LOC RWY 27 APCH WAYPOINTS. NEAR BARET; SOCAL CLRED US DIRECT TO VYDDA. I TYPED VYDDA AT THE TOP OF THE LEGS PAGE; CONFIRMED WITH THE FO; AND EXECUTED IT. AFTER PUTTING VYDDA AT THE TOP ON THE FMC; I CLEANED UP THE REST OF THE LEGS ON THE APCH. SWATT WAS SHOWN ON THE FMC AND I DELETED SINCE IT IS NO LONGER ON THE APCH. THE NEXT POINT SHOWN ON THE FMC FOR THE APCH WAS CIJHI. I FAILED TO NOTICE THAT OKAIN WAS NOT SHOWN ON THE FMC LEGS PAGE FOR THE APCH; AND I MISSED READING THE XING RESTR OF 3600 FT AT OKAIN ON THE APCH PLATE. WE WERE SUBSEQUENTLY CLRED TO CROSS VYDDA AT 4000 FT; AND CLRED FOR THE LOC TO RWY 27. AFTER LEVELING AT 4000 FT AND BELIEVING THAT CIJHI WAS THE NEXT POINT ON THE APCH; I DIRECTED THE FO TO SET 2400 FT. THIS WAS WHAT I BELIEVED TO BE THE NEXT STEP-DOWN ALT ON THE FMC. AFTER XING VYDDA AT 4000 FT I BEGAN A DSCNT TO 2400 FT. WE BROKE OUT OF THE CLOUDS SHORTLY AFTER BEGINNING THE DSCNT. AT APPROX 12 DME ON FINAL; APCH CTL CALLED US WITH A LOW ALT ALERT AND ASKED IF WE WERE VMC. WE CONFIRMED THAT WE WERE VMC AND HE THEN REMINDED US THAT THE XING ALT BACK AT OKAIN WAS 3600 FT. WE CONTINUED THE APCH TO LNDG. I NEED TO BE MORE METICULOUS ABOUT PROGRAMMING THE FMC; ESPECIALLY ON AN APCH WHICH HAS BEEN RECENTLY CHANGED. I ALSO NEED TO BE ABSOLUTELY SURE THAT THE FO AGREES WITH ANY CHANGES I MAKE IN THE FMC.

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.