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Fatigue was cited as a factor when an A319 missed a crossing restriction.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 981249 |
| Time | |
| Date | 201111 |
| Local Time Of Day | 1801-2400 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | SLT.VORTAC |
| State Reference | PA |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Make Model Name | A319 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | Cruise Descent |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Function | Captain Pilot Not Flying |
| Qualification | Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP) |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | Deviation - Altitude Crossing Restriction Not Met Deviation - Altitude Undershoot Deviation - Procedural Clearance |
Narrative:
I was the pilot not flying (PNF). We were cruising east-bound at FL370 about 40 miles west of slt. ATC assigned us to cross slt VOR at FL350. I acknowledged on the radio and set the new altitude in the FCU window. The PF programmed the crossing restriction in the FMS. I noted the white top of descent arrow appear on the route many miles ahead. At this point it had been a very long day and I was feeling tired and fatigued. I allowed myself to get distracted and didn't notice that we had flown past the white arrow. Over slt; still at FL370; I immediately realized we had missed the descent point. The PF immediately descended the aircraft to FL350 and I reported the altitude change (leaving FL370 for FL350) to ATC. We arrived at FL350 a few miles past slt. ATC acknowledged our descent report. There did not appear to be any conflict with other aircraft due to our late descent. With this error I am reminded that; no matter how tired I am; I cannot allow myself to get distracted at such a critical time. Knowing that there is an assigned descent point ahead; I need to remain vigilant to execute the descent as assigned. I also think I allowed myself to relax because I was the PNF.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: Fatigue was cited as a factor when an A319 missed a crossing restriction.
Narrative: I was the pilot not flying (PNF). We were cruising east-bound at FL370 about 40 miles west of SLT. ATC assigned us to cross SLT VOR at FL350. I acknowledged on the radio and set the new altitude in the FCU window. The PF programmed the crossing restriction in the FMS. I noted the white top of descent arrow appear on the route many miles ahead. At this point it had been a very long day and I was feeling tired and fatigued. I allowed myself to get distracted and didn't notice that we had flown past the white arrow. Over SLT; still at FL370; I immediately realized we had missed the descent point. The PF immediately descended the aircraft to FL350 and I reported the altitude change (leaving FL370 for FL350) to ATC. We arrived at FL350 a few miles past SLT. ATC acknowledged our descent report. There did not appear to be any conflict with other aircraft due to our late descent. With this error I am reminded that; no matter how tired I am; I cannot allow myself to get distracted at such a critical time. Knowing that there is an assigned descent point ahead; I need to remain vigilant to execute the descent as assigned. I also think I allowed myself to relax because I was the PNF.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.