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MD88 was cleared to cross somto at 13000 ft. Due to a strong tailwind and a slow descent rate, they crossed it at 14000 ft.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 357690 |
| Time | |
| Date | 199701 |
| Day | Fri |
| Local Time Of Day | 0001 To 0600 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | atc facility : ard airport : lga |
| State Reference | PA |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 13000 msl bound upper : 14000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | MD-88 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Navigation In Use | Other Other |
| Flight Phase | descent other |
| Route In Use | enroute airway : zdc |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : first officer |
| Qualification | pilot : commercial pilot : atp |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 8200 flight time type : 3600 |
| ASRS Report | 357690 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : captain oversight : pic |
| Qualification | pilot : atp |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met altitude deviation : undershoot non adherence : clearance |
| Independent Detector | other flight crewa |
| Resolutory Action | none taken : insufficient time |
| Consequence | Other |
| Supplementary | |
| Primary Problem | Flight Crew Human Performance |
| Air Traffic Incident | Pilot Deviation |
Narrative:
Flight from mco to lga was instructed to cross somto intersection at 13000 ft. We had a 155 KT tailwind. The controller gave us sufficient time and distance for our descent. I said to the captain, 'with this tailwind we need to start our descent.' he began a slow descent. Calculating our descent, I once again stated our position, 'we are high.' he at that point retarded the throttles. Once again calculating our position I stated, 'we are not descending fast enough.' he then extended the speed brakes. We crossed somto intersection at 14000 ft. The captain stated to me that he did not think the tailwind would be as strong in the lower altitudes, and this is why he made a gradual descent.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: MD88 WAS CLRED TO CROSS SOMTO AT 13000 FT. DUE TO A STRONG TAILWIND AND A SLOW DSCNT RATE, THEY CROSSED IT AT 14000 FT.
Narrative: FLT FROM MCO TO LGA WAS INSTRUCTED TO CROSS SOMTO INTXN AT 13000 FT. WE HAD A 155 KT TAILWIND. THE CTLR GAVE US SUFFICIENT TIME AND DISTANCE FOR OUR DSCNT. I SAID TO THE CAPT, 'WITH THIS TAILWIND WE NEED TO START OUR DSCNT.' HE BEGAN A SLOW DSCNT. CALCULATING OUR DSCNT, I ONCE AGAIN STATED OUR POS, 'WE ARE HIGH.' HE AT THAT POINT RETARDED THE THROTTLES. ONCE AGAIN CALCULATING OUR POS I STATED, 'WE ARE NOT DSNDING FAST ENOUGH.' HE THEN EXTENDED THE SPD BRAKES. WE CROSSED SOMTO INTXN AT 14000 FT. THE CAPT STATED TO ME THAT HE DID NOT THINK THE TAILWIND WOULD BE AS STRONG IN THE LOWER ALTS, AND THIS IS WHY HE MADE A GRADUAL DSCNT.
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.