A B737 flight crew did not cross a fix at the assigned altitude near rbv.

Attributes
ACN	455130
Time
Date	199911
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : rbv.vortac
State Reference	NJ
Altitude	msl single value : 33000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other vortac
Flight Phase	cruise : enroute altitude change
Route In Use	enroute airway : j191.airway
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 : 8000 flight time type : 1400
ASRS Report	455130
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 250 flight time total : 6500 flight time type : 1500
ASRS Report	455675
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	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:

Flying as captain and at the controls. Just after passing smyrna VOR, was given clearance to cross 30 mi south of robbinsville at FL270. The first officer read the clearance back correctly. We then put robbinsville in #2 VOR. I naved off of #1 VOR with smyrna to maintain course. I calculated a 3:1 descent line of 24 mi, and added to the 30 mi south, planned to begin descent at 55 mi prior to robbinsville. Concentrating on that airway intersection, I failed to transition attention to the #2 DME and began descent at 55 mi off of smyrna, or approximately 27 mi from robbinsville, at which time we received a call from ZDC concerning our altitude. There was no conflict with traffic.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B737 FLC DID NOT CROSS A FIX AT THE ASSIGNED ALT NEAR RBV.

Narrative: FLYING AS CAPT AND AT THE CTLS. JUST AFTER PASSING SMYRNA VOR, WAS GIVEN CLRNC TO CROSS 30 MI S OF ROBBINSVILLE AT FL270. THE FO READ THE CLRNC BACK CORRECTLY. WE THEN PUT ROBBINSVILLE IN #2 VOR. I NAVED OFF OF #1 VOR WITH SMYRNA TO MAINTAIN COURSE. I CALCULATED A 3:1 DSCNT LINE OF 24 MI, AND ADDED TO THE 30 MI S, PLANNED TO BEGIN DSCNT AT 55 MI PRIOR TO ROBBINSVILLE. CONCENTRATING ON THAT AIRWAY INTXN, I FAILED TO TRANSITION ATTN TO THE #2 DME AND BEGAN DSCNT AT 55 MI OFF OF SMYRNA, OR APPROX 27 MI FROM ROBBINSVILLE, AT WHICH TIME WE RECEIVED A CALL FROM ZDC CONCERNING OUR ALT. THERE WAS NO CONFLICT WITH TFC.

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.