Flight crew of large transport non compliance with clearance on descent.

Attributes
ACN	131478
Time
Date	198912
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : lrp
State Reference	PA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 25000 msl bound upper : 28000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zny
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other descent other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : atp pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 16000 flight time type : 10000
ASRS Report	131478
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : instrument pilot : atp pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 300 flight time total : 4500 flight time type : 700
ASRS Report	131725
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Flying on J152 outbnd from johnstown, ZOB cleared flight to descend to FL250 80 DME west of lancaster VOR. Aircraft was not cleared direct to lancaster, so I continued to navigation off johnstown J152 (harrisburg VOR was off the air). Descent was begun when ATC directed us to start. Descent rate was 2000 FPM. Lancaster VOR was tuned in first officer #2 VOR, bearing pointed locked on to lancaster VOR. DME was cycling. ATC informed us we had passed 80 DME west of lancaster VOR at 28000' descending. We were unable to verify because of no DME at time when DME did lock on. We were level at 25000'. Winds at altitude were 260/125 KTS, giving us a 125 KT tailwind. Problem occurred in being required to navigation off johnstown VOR on J152 with har VOR off-air, and not being able to get lock on to lrp VOR DME.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLT CREW OF LGT NON COMPLIANCE WITH CLRNC ON DESCENT.

Narrative: FLYING ON J152 OUTBND FROM JOHNSTOWN, ZOB CLRED FLT TO DSND TO FL250 80 DME W OF LANCASTER VOR. ACFT WAS NOT CLRED DIRECT TO LANCASTER, SO I CONTINUED TO NAV OFF JOHNSTOWN J152 (HARRISBURG VOR WAS OFF THE AIR). DSCNT WAS BEGUN WHEN ATC DIRECTED US TO START. DSCNT RATE WAS 2000 FPM. LANCASTER VOR WAS TUNED IN F/O #2 VOR, BEARING POINTED LOCKED ON TO LANCASTER VOR. DME WAS CYCLING. ATC INFORMED US WE HAD PASSED 80 DME W OF LANCASTER VOR AT 28000' DSNDING. WE WERE UNABLE TO VERIFY BECAUSE OF NO DME AT TIME WHEN DME DID LOCK ON. WE WERE LEVEL AT 25000'. WINDS AT ALT WERE 260/125 KTS, GIVING US A 125 KT TAILWIND. PROB OCCURRED IN BEING REQUIRED TO NAV OFF JOHNSTOWN VOR ON J152 WITH HAR VOR OFF-AIR, AND NOT BEING ABLE TO GET LOCK ON TO LRP VOR DME.

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.