<< >> NASA ASRS Report 430980, March 1999

A descending air carrier flight undershoots their assigned crossing altitude during a minor FMS procedural problem.

Attributes
ACN	430980
Time
Date	199903
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : mcw.vortac
State Reference	IA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 29000 msl bound upper : 29300
Environment
Light	Night Daylight
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 7700 flight time type : 297
ASRS Report	430980
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 maintenance problem : non compliance with mel non adherence : published procedure non adherence : company policies non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

The clearance to cross vicking intersection at FL290 had been received. The aircraft was descending in VNAV mode. I began to brief the approach. During this time the very new captain I was flying with changed the FMC cruise altitude. This changed the rate of descent. Airline SOP says he should have confirmed with me what he was executing, but he did not. A moment later (after I finished my briefing) still many mi from vicking, I noticed the situation (we were about 3000 ft high on the descent profile). I took immediate action, but still crossed vicking slightly high. In the future I will maintain a better situational awareness and the captain said he will follow SOP. P.south.: I crossed vicking close enough that there were no problems.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A DSNDING ACR FLT UNDERSHOOTS THEIR ASSIGNED XING ALT DURING A MINOR FMS PROCEDURAL PROB.

Narrative: THE CLRNC TO CROSS VICKING INTXN AT FL290 HAD BEEN RECEIVED. THE ACFT WAS DSNDING IN VNAV MODE. I BEGAN TO BRIEF THE APCH. DURING THIS TIME THE VERY NEW CAPT I WAS FLYING WITH CHANGED THE FMC CRUISE ALT. THIS CHANGED THE RATE OF DSCNT. AIRLINE SOP SAYS HE SHOULD HAVE CONFIRMED WITH ME WHAT HE WAS EXECUTING, BUT HE DID NOT. A MOMENT LATER (AFTER I FINISHED MY BRIEFING) STILL MANY MI FROM VICKING, I NOTICED THE SIT (WE WERE ABOUT 3000 FT HIGH ON THE DSCNT PROFILE). I TOOK IMMEDIATE ACTION, BUT STILL CROSSED VICKING SLIGHTLY HIGH. IN THE FUTURE I WILL MAINTAIN A BETTER SITUATIONAL AWARENESS AND THE CAPT SAID HE WILL FOLLOW SOP. P.S.: I CROSSED VICKING CLOSE ENOUGH THAT THERE WERE NO PROBS.

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.