Flight crew had to be reminded of crossing restr ahead.

Attributes
ACN	295960
Time
Date	199502
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : dtw
State Reference	MI
Altitude	msl bound lower : 20000 msl bound upper : 20000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zob tracon : pvd
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	DC-9 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 8000
ASRS Report	295960
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I went off ATC frequency to get ATIS and call in-range with the company. During this time, ATC gave us a new altitude with a crossing restr and descent at our discretion. I came back on the ATC frequency and noticed the new altitude, but failed to verify it with the first officer. As we flew over the 20 DME point which marked our restr, ATC began inquiring of our intentions. A brief and intense flurry of activity ensued as I attempted to ascertain our clearance and the first officer began an immediate descent. We descended to our assigned altitude without causing a conflict, but it did raise blood pressure and heart rate in a few folks (including me). The breakdowns in this situation occurred with both myself and the first officer. We both forgot to communicate what was new or ask what was new when coming back on frequency. Contributing was the conversation we entered into while approaching our clearance restr. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: the reporting captain has not heard from the FAA on this incident. The ARTCC controller said that there was no conflict.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLC HAD TO BE REMINDED OF XING RESTR AHEAD.

Narrative: I WENT OFF ATC FREQ TO GET ATIS AND CALL IN-RANGE WITH THE COMPANY. DURING THIS TIME, ATC GAVE US A NEW ALT WITH A XING RESTR AND DSCNT AT OUR DISCRETION. I CAME BACK ON THE ATC FREQ AND NOTICED THE NEW ALT, BUT FAILED TO VERIFY IT WITH THE FO. AS WE FLEW OVER THE 20 DME POINT WHICH MARKED OUR RESTR, ATC BEGAN INQUIRING OF OUR INTENTIONS. A BRIEF AND INTENSE FLURRY OF ACTIVITY ENSUED AS I ATTEMPTED TO ASCERTAIN OUR CLRNC AND THE FO BEGAN AN IMMEDIATE DSCNT. WE DSNDED TO OUR ASSIGNED ALT WITHOUT CAUSING A CONFLICT, BUT IT DID RAISE BLOOD PRESSURE AND HEART RATE IN A FEW FOLKS (INCLUDING ME). THE BREAKDOWNS IN THIS SIT OCCURRED WITH BOTH MYSELF AND THE FO. WE BOTH FORGOT TO COMMUNICATE WHAT WAS NEW OR ASK WHAT WAS NEW WHEN COMING BACK ON FREQ. CONTRIBUTING WAS THE CONVERSATION WE ENTERED INTO WHILE APCHING OUR CLRNC RESTR. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE RPTING CAPT HAS NOT HEARD FROM THE FAA ON THIS INCIDENT. THE ARTCC CTLR SAID THAT THERE WAS NO CONFLICT.

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.