Narrative:

Flight was positioned over dryer VORTAC at approximately FL250 when cleared by ATC to cross 'tripe' intersection at and maintain 12000 MSL. The captain and first officer using there own charts located 'tripe' fix via dryer VORTAC 314 degree radial at 89 DME from dryer. The error has been made, the correct DME is 43 from dryer VORTAC. ATC questioned flight if able to make crossing restriction, 36 DME from dryer level at FL250. Flight acknowledged tripe is 89 DME out of dryer. ATC instructed flight you only have 7 NM till 'tripe' intersection, but no problem your revised clearance is radar vectors detroit turn right heading 360 degree descend and maintain 12000 MSL. Contributing factors : night time, light turbulence and congested low altitude enroute charts make it difficult to read. Corrective action: the use of STAR's and profile descent's can help prevent these errors.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MISREAD NAV AND MISSED CROSSING RESTRICTION ASSUMED DME DISTANCE 89 VERSUS 43.

Narrative: FLT WAS POSITIONED OVER DRYER VORTAC AT APPROX FL250 WHEN CLRED BY ATC TO CROSS 'TRIPE' INTERSECTION AT AND MAINTAIN 12000 MSL. THE CAPT AND F/O USING THERE OWN CHARTS LOCATED 'TRIPE' FIX VIA DRYER VORTAC 314 DEG RADIAL AT 89 DME FROM DRYER. THE ERROR HAS BEEN MADE, THE CORRECT DME IS 43 FROM DRYER VORTAC. ATC QUESTIONED FLT IF ABLE TO MAKE XING RESTRICTION, 36 DME FROM DRYER LEVEL AT FL250. FLT ACKNOWLEDGED TRIPE IS 89 DME OUT OF DRYER. ATC INSTRUCTED FLT YOU ONLY HAVE 7 NM TILL 'TRIPE' INTERSECTION, BUT NO PROBLEM YOUR REVISED CLRNC IS RADAR VECTORS DETROIT TURN RIGHT HEADING 360 DEG DESCEND AND MAINTAIN 12000 MSL. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS : NIGHT TIME, LIGHT TURBULENCE AND CONGESTED LOW ALT ENROUTE CHARTS MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO READ. CORRECTIVE ACTION: THE USE OF STAR'S AND PROFILE DESCENT'S CAN HELP PREVENT THESE ERRORS.

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