A B737-300 approaching lax, descends late to cross civet at assigned altitude in ZLA, ca, airspace.

Attributes
ACN	378980
Time
Date	199708
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : lax
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 18000 msl bound upper : 24000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zla
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-300
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	cruise other 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 pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 9000 flight time type : 1300
ASRS Report	378980
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

FMC VNAV system was programmed to cross civet at FL180. We had been cleared direct to civet from somewhere in arizona. About 15 mi from civet and prior to descent with VNAV I noticed the aircraft was tracking several mi south of course. I selected heading mode on the mode control panel and turned the aircraft more to the north to intercept the lax runway 25L localizer. When I pushed the heading mode button I didn't notice that the FMC dropped out of VNAV mode. When I did notice, we were only 3 mi from civet and still at FL240. I immediately started a manual descent to FL180. About 2 mi from civet ZLA asked what altitude we were leaving. I responded FL240. ZLA then gave us a heading of 200 degrees and cleared us to 14000 ft. Adding to the confusion in the cockpit was the first officer being distracted by a flight attendant in the cockpit showing him pictures in an album. Next time, I will insure that all eyes are on the job at hand.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B737-300 APCHING LAX, DSNDS LATE TO CROSS CIVET AT ASSIGNED ALT IN ZLA, CA, AIRSPACE.

Narrative: FMC VNAV SYS WAS PROGRAMMED TO CROSS CIVET AT FL180. WE HAD BEEN CLRED DIRECT TO CIVET FROM SOMEWHERE IN ARIZONA. ABOUT 15 MI FROM CIVET AND PRIOR TO DSCNT WITH VNAV I NOTICED THE ACFT WAS TRACKING SEVERAL MI S OF COURSE. I SELECTED HEADING MODE ON THE MODE CTL PANEL AND TURNED THE ACFT MORE TO THE N TO INTERCEPT THE LAX RWY 25L LOC. WHEN I PUSHED THE HEADING MODE BUTTON I DIDN'T NOTICE THAT THE FMC DROPPED OUT OF VNAV MODE. WHEN I DID NOTICE, WE WERE ONLY 3 MI FROM CIVET AND STILL AT FL240. I IMMEDIATELY STARTED A MANUAL DSCNT TO FL180. ABOUT 2 MI FROM CIVET ZLA ASKED WHAT ALT WE WERE LEAVING. I RESPONDED FL240. ZLA THEN GAVE US A HDG OF 200 DEGS AND CLRED US TO 14000 FT. ADDING TO THE CONFUSION IN THE COCKPIT WAS THE FO BEING DISTRACTED BY A FLT ATTENDANT IN THE COCKPIT SHOWING HIM PICTURES IN AN ALBUM. NEXT TIME, I WILL INSURE THAT ALL EYES ARE ON THE JOB AT HAND.

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.