Captain of an embraer, EMB120, failed to make STAR crossing due to not descending earlier at a faste...

Attributes
ACN	471210
Time
Date	200004
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : sea.vortac
State Reference	WA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 10000 msl bound upper : 12000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zse.artcc tower : lzu.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Brasilia EMB-120 All Series
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 119
Flight Phase	descent : vacating altitude
Route In Use	arrival star : ching 2
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : multi engine
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 5900 flight time type : 1500
ASRS Report	741210
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : undershoot altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	atc equipment other atc equipment : radar aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : altimeter other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : insufficient time none taken : unable
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was the PF. ZSE assigned us the routine crossing restr of snomy intersection at 10000 ft on the chins 2 arrival. My navigation radio was tuned to the ykm VOR and I planned my descent point with the VOR switch-over in mind. Despite my calculation, when I changed to the sea VOR, I found I had only 5 mi remaining to snomy and well over 2000 ft to 'lose.' I increased the descent rate to the maximum allowed by air carrier X, but I still crossed snomy 2000 ft above the restr. The first officer had not flown in 3 weeks and had been occupied with contacting company operations during this event. ZSE 'handed' us off to sea approach without any indication of being concerned with our altitude. I have flown this same arrival with the restr numerous times. I believe I was simply being overconfident and complacent. Perhaps if the first officer had been more current he may have been able to divide his attention between company and aircraft position, allowing him to catch my poor planning.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CAPT OF AN EMBRAER, EMB120, FAILED TO MAKE STAR XING DUE TO NOT DSNDING EARLIER AT A FASTER RATE.

Narrative: I WAS THE PF. ZSE ASSIGNED US THE ROUTINE XING RESTR OF SNOMY INTXN AT 10000 FT ON THE CHINS 2 ARR. MY NAV RADIO WAS TUNED TO THE YKM VOR AND I PLANNED MY DSCNT POINT WITH THE VOR SWITCH-OVER IN MIND. DESPITE MY CALCULATION, WHEN I CHANGED TO THE SEA VOR, I FOUND I HAD ONLY 5 MI REMAINING TO SNOMY AND WELL OVER 2000 FT TO 'LOSE.' I INCREASED THE DSCNT RATE TO THE MAX ALLOWED BY ACR X, BUT I STILL CROSSED SNOMY 2000 FT ABOVE THE RESTR. THE FO HAD NOT FLOWN IN 3 WKS AND HAD BEEN OCCUPIED WITH CONTACTING COMPANY OPS DURING THIS EVENT. ZSE 'HANDED' US OFF TO SEA APCH WITHOUT ANY INDICATION OF BEING CONCERNED WITH OUR ALT. I HAVE FLOWN THIS SAME ARR WITH THE RESTR NUMEROUS TIMES. I BELIEVE I WAS SIMPLY BEING OVERCONFIDENT AND COMPLACENT. PERHAPS IF THE FO HAD BEEN MORE CURRENT HE MAY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DIVIDE HIS ATTN BTWN COMPANY AND ACFT POS, ALLOWING HIM TO CATCH MY POOR PLANNING.

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.

Captain of an embraer, EMB120, failed to make STAR crossing due to not descending earlier at a faster rate.