Flight crew delayed start of descent after receipt of clearance from ATC.

Attributes
ACN	114803
Time
Date	198906
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : cgt
State Reference	IL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 12000 msl bound upper : 24000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zau tracon : iad
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	cruise other descent other
Route In Use	enroute airway : zau
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 320 flight time total : 15000 flight time type : 2900
ASRS Report	114803
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

While resolving a maintenance write up with first officer with captain flying at FL240, contacted by ATC with clearance to 12,000. I let maintenance write up situation side track action to descend to 12,000. 4 to 5 mins later ATC asked altitude and told to descend a good rate/expedited descent to 12,000. Observed no conflicting traffic during descent nor was advised of same by ATC.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLT CREW DELAYED START OF DESCENT AFTER RECEIPT OF CLRNC FROM ATC.

Narrative: WHILE RESOLVING A MAINT WRITE UP WITH F/O WITH CAPT FLYING AT FL240, CONTACTED BY ATC WITH CLRNC TO 12,000. I LET MAINT WRITE UP SITUATION SIDE TRACK ACTION TO DSND TO 12,000. 4 TO 5 MINS LATER ATC ASKED ALT AND TOLD TO DSND A GOOD RATE/EXPEDITED DSCNT TO 12,000. OBSERVED NO CONFLICTING TFC DURING DSCNT NOR WAS ADVISED OF SAME BY ATC.

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.