<< >> NASA ASRS Report 346120, August 1996

B757 maintaining FL330, cleared to descend FL270 cross a point 30 mi FL270. Programming FMC to note crossing restr not met. Was at FL300 at 30 mi. Had not flown domestic or the B757 for many months.

Attributes
ACN	346120
Time
Date	199608
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : gnv
State Reference	FL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 30000 msl bound upper : 33000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zjx tower : dfw
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B757 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 75 flight time total : 10000 flight time type : 500
ASRS Report	346120
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met non adherence : far non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was assigned to descend about 6000 ft and cross a point about 25-30 NM ahead at FL270 (I was at FL330). I had some problem (operator problem) programming the FMC, and while I was wasting time messing around with FMC, we overflew our point at higher than assigned altitude. I cannot believe I did that!! I am experienced in FMS and I usually 'fly the airplane first' and make sure I'm close on crossing assignments before I go heads down and start programming. I usually fly international on the B767, but only fly about 1 trip per month. I was flying the first leg of a domestic trip. I had not flown domestic nor the B757 for many months and I was slightly uncomfortable (and slightly behind the aircraft all the way to the destination gate!). I am disappointed with myself because I have already made that mistake once in my career!!

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B757 MAINTAINING FL330, CLRED TO DSND FL270 CROSS A POINT 30 MI FL270. PROGRAMMING FMC TO NOTE XING RESTR NOT MET. WAS AT FL300 AT 30 MI. HAD NOT FLOWN DOMESTIC OR THE B757 FOR MANY MONTHS.

Narrative: I WAS ASSIGNED TO DSND ABOUT 6000 FT AND CROSS A POINT ABOUT 25-30 NM AHEAD AT FL270 (I WAS AT FL330). I HAD SOME PROB (OPERATOR PROB) PROGRAMMING THE FMC, AND WHILE I WAS WASTING TIME MESSING AROUND WITH FMC, WE OVERFLEW OUR POINT AT HIGHER THAN ASSIGNED ALT. I CANNOT BELIEVE I DID THAT!! I AM EXPERIENCED IN FMS AND I USUALLY 'FLY THE AIRPLANE FIRST' AND MAKE SURE I'M CLOSE ON XING ASSIGNMENTS BEFORE I GO HEADS DOWN AND START PROGRAMMING. I USUALLY FLY INTL ON THE B767, BUT ONLY FLY ABOUT 1 TRIP PER MONTH. I WAS FLYING THE FIRST LEG OF A DOMESTIC TRIP. I HAD NOT FLOWN DOMESTIC NOR THE B757 FOR MANY MONTHS AND I WAS SLIGHTLY UNCOMFORTABLE (AND SLIGHTLY BEHIND THE ACFT ALL THE WAY TO THE DEST GATE!). I AM DISAPPOINTED WITH MYSELF BECAUSE I HAVE ALREADY MADE THAT MISTAKE ONCE IN MY CAREER!!

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.