Narrative:

Approaching wilkes-barre (lvz) cleared on the lendy 4 arrival and to cross harty at FL230. Center started us down early and put us low on our profile descent. I was using vertical speed on the MCP at 1000 FPM. I was watching the closure of our descent to the projected profile descent. I was approximately 3800 ft below the projected descent and planned to use vertical navigation (VNAV) on the MCP to cross harty at FL230. I was interrupted by a crew member entering the cockpit. After some conversation I looked back at my descent and I was 1400 ft high on my projected descent. I applied speed brakes and increased speed. I crossed harty at 24200 ft, at 3000 FPM descent. I leveled the aircraft approximately 1.2 mi past harty at 23000 ft. Nothing was said by the center and no evasive action was taken. The next time this situation arises, I will keep my head in the instruments. I will also arm the VNAV function without the vertical speed use.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B757 FLC WAS 1200 FT HIGH ON AN ALT XING RESTR. THE CAPT (PF) HAD BEEN INTERRUPTED WHILE USING VERT SPD MODE AND FAILED TO MONITOR THE DSCNT.

Narrative: APCHING WILKES-BARRE (LVZ) CLRED ON THE LENDY 4 ARR AND TO CROSS HARTY AT FL230. CTR STARTED US DOWN EARLY AND PUT US LOW ON OUR PROFILE DSCNT. I WAS USING VERT SPD ON THE MCP AT 1000 FPM. I WAS WATCHING THE CLOSURE OF OUR DSCNT TO THE PROJECTED PROFILE DSCNT. I WAS APPROX 3800 FT BELOW THE PROJECTED DSCNT AND PLANNED TO USE VERT NAV (VNAV) ON THE MCP TO CROSS HARTY AT FL230. I WAS INTERRUPTED BY A CREW MEMBER ENTERING THE COCKPIT. AFTER SOME CONVERSATION I LOOKED BACK AT MY DSCNT AND I WAS 1400 FT HIGH ON MY PROJECTED DSCNT. I APPLIED SPD BRAKES AND INCREASED SPD. I CROSSED HARTY AT 24200 FT, AT 3000 FPM DSCNT. I LEVELED THE ACFT APPROX 1.2 MI PAST HARTY AT 23000 FT. NOTHING WAS SAID BY THE CTR AND NO EVASIVE ACTION WAS TAKEN. THE NEXT TIME THIS SIT ARISES, I WILL KEEP MY HEAD IN THE INSTS. I WILL ALSO ARM THE VNAV FUNCTION WITHOUT THE VERT SPD USE.

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.