An air carrier flight crew became distracted and started their descent too late to meet their crossi...

Attributes
ACN	398740
Time
Date	199804
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : ghm
State Reference	TN
Altitude	msl bound lower : 24000 msl bound upper : 25000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zme
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	enroute other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : flight engineer pilot : commercial pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 14000 flight time type : 9000
ASRS Report	398740
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : undershoot altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met non adherence : clearance non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

At 85 DME southwest of ghm, center cleared us to descend so as to be at FL240 45 mi southwest of ghm. A descent point 65 mi southwest of ghm was chosen. PF allowed distractions to divert attention and the 65 DME point was overflown. Mistake caught at 50 DME and immediately descent entered. Aircraft passed 45 DME in descent at FL250. Recommendation -- don't get exact. Go down when first cleared, burn the extra gas, it's cheap insurance.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN ACR FLC BECAME DISTRACTED AND STARTED THEIR DSCNT TOO LATE TO MEET THEIR XING RESTR.

Narrative: AT 85 DME SW OF GHM, CTR CLRED US TO DSND SO AS TO BE AT FL240 45 MI SW OF GHM. A DSCNT POINT 65 MI SW OF GHM WAS CHOSEN. PF ALLOWED DISTRACTIONS TO DIVERT ATTN AND THE 65 DME POINT WAS OVERFLOWN. MISTAKE CAUGHT AT 50 DME AND IMMEDIATELY DSCNT ENTERED. ACFT PASSED 45 DME IN DSCNT AT FL250. RECOMMENDATION -- DON'T GET EXACT. GO DOWN WHEN FIRST CLRED, BURN THE EXTRA GAS, IT'S CHEAP INSURANCE.

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.

An air carrier flight crew became distracted and started their descent too late to meet their crossing restr.