Narrative:

ZLA kept us at FL280 while crossing julian VORTAC for traffic at 9 O'clock. A new controller gave us instructions to cross amigo intersection at 16000 ft. The first officer started descent. I started arrival PA for passenger. During PA, ATC gave instruction to slow to 280 KTS after reaching 16000 ft. The first officer misunderstood and thought instruction was slow to 280 KTS and then descend to 16000 ft. I had just finished PA when the first officer said we were going to need relief on the altitude restr at amigo. I saw we were 4 mi to crossing and descending through 18000 ft. I told him to forget the 280 KT speed and to try to make the altitude. I then called ATC and asked for relief.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN ACR MD80 FO MISUNDERSTOOD HIS DSCNT CLRNC AND MISSED HIS XING ALT. ERROR ADMITTED. ALTDEV.

Narrative: ZLA KEPT US AT FL280 WHILE XING JULIAN VORTAC FOR TFC AT 9 O'CLOCK. A NEW CTLR GAVE US INSTRUCTIONS TO CROSS AMIGO INTXN AT 16000 FT. THE FO STARTED DSCNT. I STARTED ARR PA FOR PAX. DURING PA, ATC GAVE INSTRUCTION TO SLOW TO 280 KTS AFTER REACHING 16000 FT. THE FO MISUNDERSTOOD AND THOUGHT INSTRUCTION WAS SLOW TO 280 KTS AND THEN DSND TO 16000 FT. I HAD JUST FINISHED PA WHEN THE FO SAID WE WERE GOING TO NEED RELIEF ON THE ALT RESTR AT AMIGO. I SAW WE WERE 4 MI TO XING AND DSNDING THROUGH 18000 FT. I TOLD HIM TO FORGET THE 280 KT SPD AND TO TRY TO MAKE THE ALT. I THEN CALLED ATC AND ASKED FOR RELIEF.

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.