Reporter's aircraft X did not meet the crossing restr.

Attributes
ACN	441730
Time
Date	199907
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : mod.vor
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 10700 msl bound upper : 11000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : sck.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Xingu EMB-121 All Series
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other vortac
Flight Phase	descent : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 6000 flight time type : 3000
ASRS Report	441730
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : multi engine
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued advisory flight crew : returned to assigned altitude none taken : detected after the fact
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

We were given an altitude restr as follows: 20 NM away from modesto VOR, ZOA told us to cross modesto VOR at 11000 ft, then descend and maintain 10000 ft. 5 DME prior to modesto VOR, the first officer started the descent. Stockton approach shortly thereafter inquired about our altitude. I then realized we were at 10700 ft (about 4 DME prior to modesto VOR). I told ATC we were at 10700 ft. ATC then said, 'I am not reading your altitude.' at this point I realized the first officer had not switched the transponder to 'altitude' but to 'on' only. First officer disconnected the autoplt and climbed back up to 11000 ft. Our altitude deviation never exceeded 300 ft.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: RPTR'S ACFT X DID NOT MEET THE XING RESTR.

Narrative: WE WERE GIVEN AN ALT RESTR AS FOLLOWS: 20 NM AWAY FROM MODESTO VOR, ZOA TOLD US TO CROSS MODESTO VOR AT 11000 FT, THEN DSND AND MAINTAIN 10000 FT. 5 DME PRIOR TO MODESTO VOR, THE FO STARTED THE DSCNT. STOCKTON APCH SHORTLY THEREAFTER INQUIRED ABOUT OUR ALT. I THEN REALIZED WE WERE AT 10700 FT (ABOUT 4 DME PRIOR TO MODESTO VOR). I TOLD ATC WE WERE AT 10700 FT. ATC THEN SAID, 'I AM NOT READING YOUR ALT.' AT THIS POINT I REALIZED THE FO HAD NOT SWITCHED THE XPONDER TO 'ALT' BUT TO 'ON' ONLY. FO DISCONNECTED THE AUTOPLT AND CLBED BACK UP TO 11000 FT. OUR ALTDEV NEVER EXCEEDED 300 FT.

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.