Altitude deviation -- failed to make a crossing restriction.

Attributes
ACN	294847
Time
Date	199501
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : abe
State Reference	PA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 18000 msl bound upper : 19000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : rno
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	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 : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 210 flight time total : 9000 flight time type : 8000
ASRS Report	294847
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 230 flight time total : 10500 flight time type : 4000
ASRS Report	294321
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met altitude deviation : undershoot non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Center gave us crossing restriction as follows: 'cross 10 mi west of abe VOR at 13000 ft.' we were at 19000 ft and thought he said 10 mi east of abe at 13000 ft. We started down too late to make this restriction. Prior to being given crossing restriction, we were taken off the arrival routing to proceed direct to allentown. On the milton 8 arrival, it shows vibes intersection at 13000 ft. I suggest that when such a situation exists when the controller needs to have aircraft at an altitude at a given mileage from a VOR, he references that fix, i.e., 'cross 10 DME west of allentown at 13000 ft reference vibes intersection.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ALTDEV -- FAILED TO MAKE A XING RESTRICTION.

Narrative: CTR GAVE US XING RESTRICTION AS FOLLOWS: 'CROSS 10 MI W OF ABE VOR AT 13000 FT.' WE WERE AT 19000 FT AND THOUGHT HE SAID 10 MI E OF ABE AT 13000 FT. WE STARTED DOWN TOO LATE TO MAKE THIS RESTRICTION. PRIOR TO BEING GIVEN XING RESTRICTION, WE WERE TAKEN OFF THE ARR ROUTING TO PROCEED DIRECT TO ALLENTOWN. ON THE MILTON 8 ARR, IT SHOWS VIBES INTXN AT 13000 FT. I SUGGEST THAT WHEN SUCH A SIT EXISTS WHEN THE CTLR NEEDS TO HAVE ACFT AT AN ALT AT A GIVEN MILEAGE FROM A VOR, HE REFS THAT FIX, I.E., 'CROSS 10 DME W OF ALLENTOWN AT 13000 FT REF VIBES INTXN.

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.