Flight crew of B737-200 misses crossing restr on arrival route.

Attributes
ACN	386285
Time
Date	199711
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : pxr
State Reference	AZ
Altitude	msl bound lower : 12000 msl bound upper : 26000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zab
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-200
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	arrival other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 240 flight time total : 20000 flight time type : 5000
ASRS Report	386285
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
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

While I was getting ATIS the first officer was told to cross pleasant at 12000 ft at 250 KTS. We were at 90 DME at 26000 ft. I was trying to monitor him and get ATIS and gate information. We had never flown together before. We had a 70-80 KT tailwind. When he didn't start down at 80 DME, I told him to expedite descent with speed brakes deployed and that he was very high. He was too slow and was obviously confused. I told him he only had 17 DME to fix and I asked ATC to give us an off course vector and told them we could not meet the crossing restr. The first officer was confused as to where he was. I settled him down and let him continue to fly to regain some confidence. I also took handoff to approach and explained the situation. We finally got to 12000 ft about 10 mi past the intended fix. Once on the ground, I called approach on my own initiative and they said 'no problem.' I believe the problem is one of hiring and training. This young man is from a foreign country, and speaks several languages, but occasionally gets confused. ATC has him repeat the simplest communications. He needs more experience with the united states ATC system and airline structure. Maybe I should be more cautious when faced with this particular set of circumstances. I have flown with him 3 more days since I wrote this report. Same problems with situational awareness.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLC OF B737-200 MISSES XING RESTR ON ARR RTE.

Narrative: WHILE I WAS GETTING ATIS THE FO WAS TOLD TO CROSS PLEASANT AT 12000 FT AT 250 KTS. WE WERE AT 90 DME AT 26000 FT. I WAS TRYING TO MONITOR HIM AND GET ATIS AND GATE INFO. WE HAD NEVER FLOWN TOGETHER BEFORE. WE HAD A 70-80 KT TAILWIND. WHEN HE DIDN'T START DOWN AT 80 DME, I TOLD HIM TO EXPEDITE DSCNT WITH SPD BRAKES DEPLOYED AND THAT HE WAS VERY HIGH. HE WAS TOO SLOW AND WAS OBVIOUSLY CONFUSED. I TOLD HIM HE ONLY HAD 17 DME TO FIX AND I ASKED ATC TO GIVE US AN OFF COURSE VECTOR AND TOLD THEM WE COULD NOT MEET THE XING RESTR. THE FO WAS CONFUSED AS TO WHERE HE WAS. I SETTLED HIM DOWN AND LET HIM CONTINUE TO FLY TO REGAIN SOME CONFIDENCE. I ALSO TOOK HDOF TO APCH AND EXPLAINED THE SIT. WE FINALLY GOT TO 12000 FT ABOUT 10 MI PAST THE INTENDED FIX. ONCE ON THE GND, I CALLED APCH ON MY OWN INITIATIVE AND THEY SAID 'NO PROB.' I BELIEVE THE PROB IS ONE OF HIRING AND TRAINING. THIS YOUNG MAN IS FROM A FOREIGN COUNTRY, AND SPEAKS SEVERAL LANGUAGES, BUT OCCASIONALLY GETS CONFUSED. ATC HAS HIM REPEAT THE SIMPLEST COMS. HE NEEDS MORE EXPERIENCE WITH THE UNITED STATES ATC SYS AND AIRLINE STRUCTURE. MAYBE I SHOULD BE MORE CAUTIOUS WHEN FACED WITH THIS PARTICULAR SET OF CIRCUMSTANCES. I HAVE FLOWN WITH HIM 3 MORE DAYS SINCE I WROTE THIS RPT. SAME PROBS WITH SITUATIONAL AWARENESS.

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.