Narrative:

While descending in VNAV mode with autoplt coupled on the mizar arrival to dtw, I noticed FMS CDU showing 5 mi short (meaning under glide profile) to mizar intersection, crossing restr 12000 ft. We were about 20 mi to go, passing FL190. I got distraction until first officer stated 'are we going to make the crossing?' I saw the FMS now said we were 12 mi long (above profile) and only 5 mi to go. I asked the first officer to tell approach we were going to be long at mizar. Approach asked if we were descending to 12000 ft. We replied in the affirmative. The speed brakes were extended and we were descending as quickly as possible. We crossed mizar about 13500 ft and soon leveled at 12000 ft close to mizar. Approach never said anything further.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PIC ON WDB ACFT FAILS TO INSURE THAT HIS FMC DRIVEN AUTOPLT MAKES AN ALT XING RESTR. PIC'S INATTN TO DUTY IS NOT NOTED BY FO WHO, TOO LATE, ASKS CAPT ABOUT THEIR DSCNT PROFILE. CREW ADVISES ATC OF SIT.

Narrative: WHILE DSNDING IN VNAV MODE WITH AUTOPLT COUPLED ON THE MIZAR ARR TO DTW, I NOTICED FMS CDU SHOWING 5 MI SHORT (MEANING UNDER GLIDE PROFILE) TO MIZAR INTXN, XING RESTR 12000 FT. WE WERE ABOUT 20 MI TO GO, PASSING FL190. I GOT DISTR UNTIL FO STATED 'ARE WE GOING TO MAKE THE XING?' I SAW THE FMS NOW SAID WE WERE 12 MI LONG (ABOVE PROFILE) AND ONLY 5 MI TO GO. I ASKED THE FO TO TELL APCH WE WERE GOING TO BE LONG AT MIZAR. APCH ASKED IF WE WERE DSNDING TO 12000 FT. WE REPLIED IN THE AFFIRMATIVE. THE SPD BRAKES WERE EXTENDED AND WE WERE DSNDING AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. WE CROSSED MIZAR ABOUT 13500 FT AND SOON LEVELED AT 12000 FT CLOSE TO MIZAR. APCH NEVER SAID ANYTHING FURTHER.

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.