Missed crossing restriction by 4000'.

Attributes
ACN	99157
Time
Date	198811
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : ric
State Reference	VA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 27000 msl bound upper : 31000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other descent other
Route In Use	enroute airway : j52
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 120 flight time total : 8500 flight time type : 200
ASRS Report	99157
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

En route to dca from savannah we were issued the crossing restriction of FL270, 80 south of ric VOR on J52. As I recall it was not a clearance that required a rapid descent. During the descent I was busy with normal copilot functions, eg, checklists, ATIS, frequency changes and monitoring for tracking, my other concern was the basic airmanship of the captain as he was a bit rusty. As it turns out, I was too, as we missed our restriction by nearly 4000'. After being questioned by the next controller, I responded that 'yes, we had a restriction and would descend rapidly.' no further comments were made. The real problem concerns a captain whose entire thought process was not dedicated to a particular flight thus requiring any copilot to do 2 jobs-his and the captain's. Safety is not compromised as the basic skills are evident. Accuracy and attention to detail did suffer. This report is being discussed with my aviation director and other crew members emphasizing the need for constant vigilance with certain crew members. It is hoped that we can correct this situation.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MISSED CROSSING RESTRICTION BY 4000'.

Narrative: ENRTE TO DCA FROM SAVANNAH WE WERE ISSUED THE XING RESTRICTION OF FL270, 80 S OF RIC VOR ON J52. AS I RECALL IT WAS NOT A CLRNC THAT REQUIRED A RAPID DSCNT. DURING THE DSCNT I WAS BUSY WITH NORMAL COPLT FUNCTIONS, EG, CHKLISTS, ATIS, FREQ CHANGES AND MONITORING FOR TRACKING, MY OTHER CONCERN WAS THE BASIC AIRMANSHIP OF THE CAPT AS HE WAS A BIT RUSTY. AS IT TURNS OUT, I WAS TOO, AS WE MISSED OUR RESTRICTION BY NEARLY 4000'. AFTER BEING QUESTIONED BY THE NEXT CTLR, I RESPONDED THAT 'YES, WE HAD A RESTRICTION AND WOULD DSND RAPIDLY.' NO FURTHER COMMENTS WERE MADE. THE REAL PROB CONCERNS A CAPT WHOSE ENTIRE THOUGHT PROCESS WAS NOT DEDICATED TO A PARTICULAR FLT THUS REQUIRING ANY COPLT TO DO 2 JOBS-HIS AND THE CAPT'S. SAFETY IS NOT COMPROMISED AS THE BASIC SKILLS ARE EVIDENT. ACCURACY AND ATTN TO DETAIL DID SUFFER. THIS RPT IS BEING DISCUSSED WITH MY AVIATION DIRECTOR AND OTHER CREW MEMBERS EMPHASIZING THE NEED FOR CONSTANT VIGILANCE WITH CERTAIN CREW MEMBERS. IT IS HOPED THAT WE CAN CORRECT THIS SITUATION.

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.