Narrative:

Center cleared air carrier flight on 24/25 profile descent with lax from derbb intersection. I was first officer and flying, the captain was on radio to company. I started the descent but, I was on the sadde 4 descent profile. On that profile descent there is no altitude restriction until symon intersection where it is 17000/280 KTS. I reached 13000' at fim and was informed I had missed my altitude at fim. When the captain and I started discussing this we became aware that I was mistaken in my assumption as to which profile I was on. Upon further review we determined that we thought there were too many profiles with the same navaids on them that should be incorporated into one because of the confusion. It is too easy to get on one approach and think you are complying when, in fact, you are on another approach that can lead to a violation.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR MLG OVERSHOT CROSSING RESTRICTION ALT ON PROFILE DESCENT.

Narrative: CENTER CLRED ACR FLT ON 24/25 PROFILE DSCNT WITH LAX FROM DERBB INTXN. I WAS F/O AND FLYING, THE CAPT WAS ON RADIO TO COMPANY. I STARTED THE DSCNT BUT, I WAS ON THE SADDE 4 DSCNT PROFILE. ON THAT PROFILE DSCNT THERE IS NO ALT RESTRICTION UNTIL SYMON INTXN WHERE IT IS 17000/280 KTS. I REACHED 13000' AT FIM AND WAS INFORMED I HAD MISSED MY ALT AT FIM. WHEN THE CAPT AND I STARTED DISCUSSING THIS WE BECAME AWARE THAT I WAS MISTAKEN IN MY ASSUMPTION AS TO WHICH PROFILE I WAS ON. UPON FURTHER REVIEW WE DETERMINED THAT WE THOUGHT THERE WERE TOO MANY PROFILES WITH THE SAME NAVAIDS ON THEM THAT SHOULD BE INCORPORATED INTO ONE BECAUSE OF THE CONFUSION. IT IS TOO EASY TO GET ON ONE APCH AND THINK YOU ARE COMPLYING WHEN, IN FACT, YOU ARE ON ANOTHER APCH THAT CAN LEAD TO A VIOLATION.

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.