Crossing restr not met.

Attributes
ACN	281930
Time
Date	199409
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : ldn airport : phl
State Reference	VA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 15000 msl bound upper : 20000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	A320
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	enroute airway : zdc
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 11000
ASRS Report	281930
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 11000 flight time type : 5000
ASRS Report	282329
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : undershoot altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course other
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Cleared to cross druzz intersection at 15000 ft. Crossed at 20000 ft. I allowed the computer to follow its descent profile, which had 15000 ft at druzz programmed into it by me. However, when the first officer entered the new runway into the computer, it took it upon itself to erase my crossing restr. Any computer in an aircraft should be designed to prompt the pilot prior to deleting anything. This is a major fault of A320 computers which happens frequently. An 'execute' button similar to boeing's design should be a must. Supplemental information from acn 282329: captain initiated descent. I went off center frequency for ATIS, PA, station in range call, etc.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: XING RESTR NOT MET.

Narrative: CLRED TO CROSS DRUZZ INTXN AT 15000 FT. CROSSED AT 20000 FT. I ALLOWED THE COMPUTER TO FOLLOW ITS DSCNT PROFILE, WHICH HAD 15000 FT AT DRUZZ PROGRAMMED INTO IT BY ME. HOWEVER, WHEN THE FO ENTERED THE NEW RWY INTO THE COMPUTER, IT TOOK IT UPON ITSELF TO ERASE MY XING RESTR. ANY COMPUTER IN AN ACFT SHOULD BE DESIGNED TO PROMPT THE PLT PRIOR TO DELETING ANYTHING. THIS IS A MAJOR FAULT OF A320 COMPUTERS WHICH HAPPENS FREQUENTLY. AN 'EXECUTE' BUTTON SIMILAR TO BOEING'S DESIGN SHOULD BE A MUST. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 282329: CAPT INITIATED DSCNT. I WENT OFF CTR FREQ FOR ATIS, PA, STATION IN RANGE CALL, ETC.

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.