An air carrier medium large transport crew failed to make its crossing restr.

Attributes
ACN	253753
Time
Date	199310
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : bdf
State Reference	IL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 29000 msl bound upper : 35000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zav
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
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : commercial pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 18050 flight time type : 3480
ASRS Report	253753
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

We were cleared to cross 65 NM southwest of bdf at FL290. The first officer spent too much time trying unsuccessfully to enter this crossing restr into the FMC. Because of this, he started down late from FL350 and crossed the 65 NM point at approximately FL300. ATC at no time commented concerning our being approximately 1000 ft high. Cause of problem: first officer was too concerned about the FMC entry instead of starting the descent properly. I should have been monitoring the first officer's actions more closely. I gave him too much credit for knowing what he was doing.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN ACR MLG CREW FAILED TO MAKE ITS XING RESTR.

Narrative: WE WERE CLRED TO CROSS 65 NM SW OF BDF AT FL290. THE FO SPENT TOO MUCH TIME TRYING UNSUCCESSFULLY TO ENTER THIS XING RESTR INTO THE FMC. BECAUSE OF THIS, HE STARTED DOWN LATE FROM FL350 AND CROSSED THE 65 NM POINT AT APPROX FL300. ATC AT NO TIME COMMENTED CONCERNING OUR BEING APPROX 1000 FT HIGH. CAUSE OF PROB: FO WAS TOO CONCERNED ABOUT THE FMC ENTRY INSTEAD OF STARTING THE DSCNT PROPERLY. I SHOULD HAVE BEEN MONITORING THE FO'S ACTIONS MORE CLOSELY. I GAVE HIM TOO MUCH CREDIT FOR KNOWING WHAT HE WAS DOING.

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.