Altitude deviation. Crossing restriction not met.

Attributes
ACN	124868
Time
Date	198910
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : lrp
State Reference	PA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 25000 msl bound upper : 25750
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zny
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Widebody, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	enroute airway : j152
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 20360 flight time type : 600
ASRS Report	124868
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 195 flight time total : 12000 flight time type : 480
ASRS Report	124626
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met altitude deviation : undershoot non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

Approximately 121 NM west of lrp while cruising at FL410, we were issued a clearance to cross 80 NM west of lrp at FL250. A normal rate of descent with no tailwind would require approximately 48 NM to comply with such a restriction. At the time of the clearance we had tailwind at 114 KTS. After attempting to put the crossing restriction into the computer, we started our descent manually. Center asked if we would be able to comply with the crossing restriction, and we told him that we would be a little long. The controller then replied that he only had problems with widebody transport pilots and all that sophisticated equipment when it came to complying with his request. With maximum effort, we crossed the 80 NM fix approximately 750' high and we leveled at FL250 2.5 NM east of the specified fix.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ALT DEVIATION. CROSSING RESTRICTION NOT MET.

Narrative: APPROX 121 NM W OF LRP WHILE CRUISING AT FL410, WE WERE ISSUED A CLRNC TO CROSS 80 NM W OF LRP AT FL250. A NORMAL RATE OF DSCNT WITH NO TAILWIND WOULD REQUIRE APPROX 48 NM TO COMPLY WITH SUCH A RESTRICTION. AT THE TIME OF THE CLRNC WE HAD TAILWIND AT 114 KTS. AFTER ATTEMPTING TO PUT THE XING RESTRICTION INTO THE COMPUTER, WE STARTED OUR DSCNT MANUALLY. CENTER ASKED IF WE WOULD BE ABLE TO COMPLY WITH THE XING RESTRICTION, AND WE TOLD HIM THAT WE WOULD BE A LITTLE LONG. THE CTLR THEN REPLIED THAT HE ONLY HAD PROBS WITH WDB PLTS AND ALL THAT SOPHISTICATED EQUIP WHEN IT CAME TO COMPLYING WITH HIS REQUEST. WITH MAX EFFORT, WE CROSSED THE 80 NM FIX APPROX 750' HIGH AND WE LEVELED AT FL250 2.5 NM E OF THE SPECIFIED FIX.

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.