Air carrier large transport fails to meet crossing restriction in descent.

Attributes
ACN	130630
Time
Date	198912
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : abe airport : lga
State Reference	PA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 13000 msl bound upper : 15300
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	enroute airway : zny
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 189 flight time total : 6500 flight time type : 1170
ASRS Report	130630
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 160 flight time total : 13000 flight time type : 1100
ASRS Report	131072
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : undershoot altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : insufficient time
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was off center frequency listening to the lga ATIS and obtaining our gate information. When I returned to center frequency, the controller immediately asked if we were going to make our crossing restriction. I asked the captain if we would make it, and what the restriction was. The controller asked again, before I could straighten out with the captain, what the restriction was and if we were going to make it. I replied that we were doing our best. The captain had started a descent with full speed brakes by this time. The captain explained to me that we were over the fix (southwest of abe) now at 15300' instead of assigned 13000'. He said he must have inadvertently deleted the altitude on the FMC and seeing we were on VNAV path, had not noticed the error. The captain explained to the controller that it was our error. I never had a chance to hear restriction until we were already in a violation situation. 2 pilot airplanes are difficult when 1 pilot has to leave the frequency.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR LGT FAILS TO MEET CROSSING RESTRICTION IN DESCENT.

Narrative: I WAS OFF CENTER FREQ LISTENING TO THE LGA ATIS AND OBTAINING OUR GATE INFO. WHEN I RETURNED TO CENTER FREQ, THE CTLR IMMEDIATELY ASKED IF WE WERE GOING TO MAKE OUR XING RESTRICTION. I ASKED THE CAPT IF WE WOULD MAKE IT, AND WHAT THE RESTRICTION WAS. THE CTLR ASKED AGAIN, BEFORE I COULD STRAIGHTEN OUT WITH THE CAPT, WHAT THE RESTRICTION WAS AND IF WE WERE GOING TO MAKE IT. I REPLIED THAT WE WERE DOING OUR BEST. THE CAPT HAD STARTED A DSCNT WITH FULL SPEED BRAKES BY THIS TIME. THE CAPT EXPLAINED TO ME THAT WE WERE OVER THE FIX (SW OF ABE) NOW AT 15300' INSTEAD OF ASSIGNED 13000'. HE SAID HE MUST HAVE INADVERTENTLY DELETED THE ALT ON THE FMC AND SEEING WE WERE ON VNAV PATH, HAD NOT NOTICED THE ERROR. THE CAPT EXPLAINED TO THE CTLR THAT IT WAS OUR ERROR. I NEVER HAD A CHANCE TO HEAR RESTRICTION UNTIL WE WERE ALREADY IN A VIOLATION SITUATION. 2 PLT AIRPLANES ARE DIFFICULT WHEN 1 PLT HAS TO LEAVE THE FREQ.

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.