Flight crew does not make crossing restr descending into slc.

Attributes
ACN	444250
Time
Date	199907
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : ffu.vortac
State Reference	UT
Altitude	msl single value : 18500
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Weather Elements	Turbulence
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zlc.artcc tower : pvd.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other other vortac
Flight Phase	descent : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	arrival star : spane 3
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : flight engineer pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 230 flight time total : 4500 flight time type : 235
ASRS Report	444250
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

While on the descent to salt lake city (slc) on the spane three arrival we had to deviate to the north for buildups in the area. ZLC asked if we could proceed direct to fairfield VOR (ffu) and cross 20 mi east at 16000 ft. We said yes. As the PNF, I entered direct ffu and asked the captain if it looked good, he said yes and entered it. While turning towards ffu I accidentally entered the 16000 ft restr for the VOR not for 20 DME east. Approximately 25 mi from ffu the captain realized we were not going to make the restr. I asked center 3 times for relief on the restr, but due to radio congestion I was not able to get through until the third time. We were granted relief on the altitude restr and crossed the 20 DME at 18500 ft. Why did this happen? An FMC is only as good as the person who programs it. Procedure is to have the other pilot verify the entry, then monitor performance of the VNAV. Due to the limited FMC experience I have and the high workload associated with the WX, turbulence and descent I failed to make the correct entry and have it verified. Our very high workload doubled when the wrong entry was made. I will have every entry verified in the future.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLC DOES NOT MAKE XING RESTR DSNDING INTO SLC.

Narrative: WHILE ON THE DSCNT TO SALT LAKE CITY (SLC) ON THE SPANE THREE ARR WE HAD TO DEVIATE TO THE N FOR BUILDUPS IN THE AREA. ZLC ASKED IF WE COULD PROCEED DIRECT TO FAIRFIELD VOR (FFU) AND CROSS 20 MI E AT 16000 FT. WE SAID YES. AS THE PNF, I ENTERED DIRECT FFU AND ASKED THE CAPT IF IT LOOKED GOOD, HE SAID YES AND ENTERED IT. WHILE TURNING TOWARDS FFU I ACCIDENTALLY ENTERED THE 16000 FT RESTR FOR THE VOR NOT FOR 20 DME E. APPROX 25 MI FROM FFU THE CAPT REALIZED WE WERE NOT GOING TO MAKE THE RESTR. I ASKED CTR 3 TIMES FOR RELIEF ON THE RESTR, BUT DUE TO RADIO CONGESTION I WAS NOT ABLE TO GET THROUGH UNTIL THE THIRD TIME. WE WERE GRANTED RELIEF ON THE ALT RESTR AND CROSSED THE 20 DME AT 18500 FT. WHY DID THIS HAPPEN? AN FMC IS ONLY AS GOOD AS THE PERSON WHO PROGRAMS IT. PROC IS TO HAVE THE OTHER PLT VERIFY THE ENTRY, THEN MONITOR PERFORMANCE OF THE VNAV. DUE TO THE LIMITED FMC EXPERIENCE I HAVE AND THE HIGH WORKLOAD ASSOCIATED WITH THE WX, TURB AND DSCNT I FAILED TO MAKE THE CORRECT ENTRY AND HAVE IT VERIFIED. OUR VERY HIGH WORKLOAD DOUBLED WHEN THE WRONG ENTRY WAS MADE. I WILL HAVE EVERY ENTRY VERIFIED IN THE FUTURE.

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.