Altitude crossing restr. Missed.

Attributes
ACN	278453
Time
Date	199407
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : orf
State Reference	VA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 29000 msl bound upper : 33000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-400
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 240 flight time total : 18500 flight time type : 4000
ASRS Report	278453
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : flight engineer pilot : commercial pilot : atp pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 90 flight time total : 5000 flight time type : 500
ASRS Report	278875
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

While flying to orf on the airway, ZDC instructed us to cross 15 mi south of orf at FL290. We were at 330. I tried to program the FMC to cross the fix using the VNAV made, but as in some other boeing 737-400's the FMC wouldn't take the restr and gave the message 'altitude constraint at orf' (FL330). I made a mental note to use vertical speed or level change to make the restr. Meanwhile we were dealing with thunderstorm avoidance and listening closely to a very busy ATC frequency. 1 of the flight attendants had also briefly visited the cockpit. About 5 mi before the restr fix, ATC instructed us to turn right 30 degrees and descend to FL290. We quickly realized we were obviously going to miss the restr. Contributing to the situation were fatigue (it was the last day of a 4-DAY trip in which 2 extra 1 hour plus 15 min legs were added the second day due to a shortage of crews), heavy cockpit workload and distraction and an FMC glitch.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ALT XING RESTR. MISSED.

Narrative: WHILE FLYING TO ORF ON THE AIRWAY, ZDC INSTRUCTED US TO CROSS 15 MI S OF ORF AT FL290. WE WERE AT 330. I TRIED TO PROGRAM THE FMC TO CROSS THE FIX USING THE VNAV MADE, BUT AS IN SOME OTHER BOEING 737-400'S THE FMC WOULDN'T TAKE THE RESTR AND GAVE THE MESSAGE 'ALT CONSTRAINT AT ORF' (FL330). I MADE A MENTAL NOTE TO USE VERT SPD OR LEVEL CHANGE TO MAKE THE RESTR. MEANWHILE WE WERE DEALING WITH TSTM AVOIDANCE AND LISTENING CLOSELY TO A VERY BUSY ATC FREQ. 1 OF THE FLT ATTENDANTS HAD ALSO BRIEFLY VISITED THE COCKPIT. ABOUT 5 MI BEFORE THE RESTR FIX, ATC INSTRUCTED US TO TURN R 30 DEGS AND DSND TO FL290. WE QUICKLY REALIZED WE WERE OBVIOUSLY GOING TO MISS THE RESTR. CONTRIBUTING TO THE SIT WERE FATIGUE (IT WAS THE LAST DAY OF A 4-DAY TRIP IN WHICH 2 EXTRA 1 HR PLUS 15 MIN LEGS WERE ADDED THE SECOND DAY DUE TO A SHORTAGE OF CREWS), HVY COCKPIT WORKLOAD AND DISTR AND AN FMC GLITCH.

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.