Altitude deviation altitude undershot - air carrier is high at the crossing restr.

Attributes
ACN	301750
Time
Date	199504
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : sau airport : oak
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 7000 msl bound upper : 7600
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : oak tower : bwi
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	arrival other arrival star : star
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time type : 1500
ASRS Report	301750
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
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 : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Cleared to cross 10 mi north of sau 7000 ft in descent for oakland. VNAV path selected. Aircraft on path passing 10000 ft and on speed. PF selected level change approaching the crossing fix, I noticed we were approximately 800 ft high on profile. PF made adjustment with pitch and speed brake. Tried to advise approach control, but radio was tied up. We crossed the fix at approximately 7600 ft and leveled very soon afterward at 7000 ft. Advised ATC. We got an increasing tailwind below 10000 ft which I didn't notice and failed to notice the trend of getting high early enough to bring it to PF's attention soon enough. I was scanning for traffic at the time.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ALTDEV ALT UNDERSHOT - ACR IS HIGH AT THE XING RESTR.

Narrative: CLRED TO CROSS 10 MI N OF SAU 7000 FT IN DSCNT FOR OAKLAND. VNAV PATH SELECTED. ACFT ON PATH PASSING 10000 FT AND ON SPD. PF SELECTED LEVEL CHANGE APCHING THE XING FIX, I NOTICED WE WERE APPROX 800 FT HIGH ON PROFILE. PF MADE ADJUSTMENT WITH PITCH AND SPD BRAKE. TRIED TO ADVISE APCH CTL, BUT RADIO WAS TIED UP. WE CROSSED THE FIX AT APPROX 7600 FT AND LEVELED VERY SOON AFTERWARD AT 7000 FT. ADVISED ATC. WE GOT AN INCREASING TAILWIND BELOW 10000 FT WHICH I DIDN'T NOTICE AND FAILED TO NOTICE THE TREND OF GETTING HIGH EARLY ENOUGH TO BRING IT TO PF'S ATTN SOON ENOUGH. I WAS SCANNING FOR TFC AT THE TIME.

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.