Large transport crew did not descend when cleared by ATC.

Attributes
ACN	414570
Time
Date	199809
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : fcm airport : msp
State Reference	MN
Altitude	msl bound lower : 7000 msl bound upper : 11000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : msp
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : flight engineer pilot : commercial pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 75 flight time total : 2400 flight time type : 200
ASRS Report	414570
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

During the approach/descent to msp, we were given a descent from 11000 ft to 7000 ft by msp approach control. We were in the process of briefing the approach and failed to descend. We followed sops by placing the altitude in the altitude alert box. Both pilots acknowledged, PNF acknowledged to ATC. ATC called several mins later and requested that we initiate descent. The crew followed SOP but did not ensure that the descent was initiated due to distrs and discussion surrounding the approach brief. For corrective action, we need to ensure that the descent is initiated when it is put in the altitude alert box.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: LGT CREW DID NOT DSND WHEN CLRED BY ATC.

Narrative: DURING THE APCH/DSCNT TO MSP, WE WERE GIVEN A DSCNT FROM 11000 FT TO 7000 FT BY MSP APCH CTL. WE WERE IN THE PROCESS OF BRIEFING THE APCH AND FAILED TO DSND. WE FOLLOWED SOPS BY PLACING THE ALT IN THE ALT ALERT BOX. BOTH PLTS ACKNOWLEDGED, PNF ACKNOWLEDGED TO ATC. ATC CALLED SEVERAL MINS LATER AND REQUESTED THAT WE INITIATE DSCNT. THE CREW FOLLOWED SOP BUT DID NOT ENSURE THAT THE DSCNT WAS INITIATED DUE TO DISTRS AND DISCUSSION SURROUNDING THE APCH BRIEF. FOR CORRECTIVE ACTION, WE NEED TO ENSURE THAT THE DSCNT IS INITIATED WHEN IT IS PUT IN THE ALT ALERT BOX.

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.