A descending B727 does not make its altitude crossing restr.

Attributes
ACN	417240
Time
Date	199810
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : lgc
State Reference	GA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 24000 msl bound upper : 25500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : ztl
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B727 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : second officer
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 3500 flight time type : 800
ASRS Report	417240
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met altitude deviation : undershoot non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Approximately 120 NM west of atl we were given a pilot's discretion descent from FL330 to cross a specified distance (it was either 40 or 70 NM) southwest of la grange VORTAC at FL240. Several mins later as I was obtaining atl ATIS the PF retarded the throttles to idle, extended the speed brakes and pitched the nose down approximately 12 degrees in an apparent attempt to meet the altitude restr. During my efforts to obtain the ATIS I did not have the radio the crew used to communicate with ATC toggled up. Therefore, I do not know whether or not the pilots advised ATC that we possibly would not meet the altitude restr I assumed to still be in effect or whether that altitude restr had been deleted. As I monitored the pilot's efforts to meet the altitude restr which again, I assumed was still in effect, I noted that we leveled off at FL240 4 NM later than instructed or approximately 1500 ft high at the assigned distance from la grange. Nothing further was told to us by ATC except for a frequency change to the next controller.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A DSNDING B727 DOES NOT MAKE ITS ALT XING RESTR.

Narrative: APPROX 120 NM W OF ATL WE WERE GIVEN A PLT'S DISCRETION DSCNT FROM FL330 TO CROSS A SPECIFIED DISTANCE (IT WAS EITHER 40 OR 70 NM) SW OF LA GRANGE VORTAC AT FL240. SEVERAL MINS LATER AS I WAS OBTAINING ATL ATIS THE PF RETARDED THE THROTTLES TO IDLE, EXTENDED THE SPD BRAKES AND PITCHED THE NOSE DOWN APPROX 12 DEGS IN AN APPARENT ATTEMPT TO MEET THE ALT RESTR. DURING MY EFFORTS TO OBTAIN THE ATIS I DID NOT HAVE THE RADIO THE CREW USED TO COMMUNICATE WITH ATC TOGGLED UP. THEREFORE, I DO NOT KNOW WHETHER OR NOT THE PLTS ADVISED ATC THAT WE POSSIBLY WOULD NOT MEET THE ALT RESTR I ASSUMED TO STILL BE IN EFFECT OR WHETHER THAT ALT RESTR HAD BEEN DELETED. AS I MONITORED THE PLT'S EFFORTS TO MEET THE ALT RESTR WHICH AGAIN, I ASSUMED WAS STILL IN EFFECT, I NOTED THAT WE LEVELED OFF AT FL240 4 NM LATER THAN INSTRUCTED OR APPROX 1500 FT HIGH AT THE ASSIGNED DISTANCE FROM LA GRANGE. NOTHING FURTHER WAS TOLD TO US BY ATC EXCEPT FOR A FREQ CHANGE TO THE NEXT CTLR.

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.