Air carrier misses crossing restriction. First officer turns off mode C.

Attributes
ACN	203782
Time
Date	199203
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : jfk
State Reference	NY
Altitude	msl bound lower : 8000 msl bound upper : 9800
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : pit
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Light Transport
Flight Phase	cruise other descent other
Route In Use	enroute airway : zny
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 5800 flight time type : 1400
ASRS Report	203782
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : undershoot altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Performing arrival into jfk airport, was asked to cross ziggi intersection at 8000 ft. As captain, I was the PNF performing appropriate duties as such, i.e., collecting ATIS, talking to the flight attendant and making a passenger PA. The first officer failed to cross ziggi at 8000. ATC inquired as to our altitude, which got my attention. I noticed immediately that we missed the restriction and that the first officer had switched off the transponder to cover our mistake. He had increased the rate of descent significantly to make up for the error. I turned the transponder back on, reported that we were leveling at the required altitude. It was my fault for not monitoring the first officer, however, I assumed he was capable due to the fact that he was a recently downgraded captain. I was wrong. The duties I was performing I always try to do above 10000 ft and 20 mins from touchdown to reduce workload. Vigilance, no matter who is flying, is required at all times.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR MISSES XING RESTRICTION. FO TURNS OFF MODE C.

Narrative: PERFORMING ARR INTO JFK ARPT, WAS ASKED TO CROSS ZIGGI INTXN AT 8000 FT. AS CAPT, I WAS THE PNF PERFORMING APPROPRIATE DUTIES AS SUCH, I.E., COLLECTING ATIS, TALKING TO THE FLT ATTENDANT AND MAKING A PAX PA. THE FO FAILED TO CROSS ZIGGI AT 8000. ATC INQUIRED AS TO OUR ALT, WHICH GOT MY ATTN. I NOTICED IMMEDIATELY THAT WE MISSED THE RESTRICTION AND THAT THE FO HAD SWITCHED OFF THE TRANSPONDER TO COVER OUR MISTAKE. HE HAD INCREASED THE RATE OF DSCNT SIGNIFICANTLY TO MAKE UP FOR THE ERROR. I TURNED THE TRANSPONDER BACK ON, RPTED THAT WE WERE LEVELING AT THE REQUIRED ALT. IT WAS MY FAULT FOR NOT MONITORING THE FO, HOWEVER, I ASSUMED HE WAS CAPABLE DUE TO THE FACT THAT HE WAS A RECENTLY DOWNGRADED CAPT. I WAS WRONG. THE DUTIES I WAS PERFORMING I ALWAYS TRY TO DO ABOVE 10000 FT AND 20 MINS FROM TOUCHDOWN TO REDUCE WORKLOAD. VIGILANCE, NO MATTER WHO IS FLYING, IS REQUIRED AT ALL TIMES.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 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.