Narrative:

Clear day winds from north at 5 KTS. Given vectors to ILS approach runway 27. Airport in sight from approximately 25 mi. ATC instructed to maintain 4000 ft, intercept localizer, cleared approach. The ILS runway 27 has mandatory altitudes, ie, dento at 3000 ft. I intercepted GS at 4000 ft and 'rode it down' from there. ATC said 'it looks like you missed your crossing restr.' sure enough, upon further review, I did not descend to 3000 ft, even though this puts the aircraft below the GS, 14 mi from the runway. Chain of events: beautiful day, anticipating the visual approach. It was my habit pattern to intercept the GS at last given altitude as well. Lulled into complacency on a nice day, expecting the visual approach. Did not review the ILS approach beyond the frequency and course. Corrected as best as possible after being advised by ATC. Note: it is odd when flying an ILS approach that you would have mandatory step-down altitudes, that when complied with, will put you below the electronic glide path. This is not an excuse, just an observation. I can't recall noticing this anywhere else. Reviewing the approach procedure. Supplemental information from acn 533320: cleared to first officer remained at 4000 ft and planned to catch the GS for the visual to runway 27. Controller at approximately 14 mi said 'are you going to make the altitude restrs?' only then did I notice mandatory restrs on the approach. The controller acted as if it was no big deal. We descended for the rest of the approach.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: DC9 CREW, CLRED FOR AN ILS TO IAH, FAILED TO MAKE A 'MANDATORY' XING RESTR.

Narrative: CLR DAY WINDS FROM N AT 5 KTS. GIVEN VECTORS TO ILS APCH RWY 27. ARPT IN SIGHT FROM APPROX 25 MI. ATC INSTRUCTED TO MAINTAIN 4000 FT, INTERCEPT LOC, CLRED APCH. THE ILS RWY 27 HAS MANDATORY ALTS, IE, DENTO AT 3000 FT. I INTERCEPTED GS AT 4000 FT AND 'RODE IT DOWN' FROM THERE. ATC SAID 'IT LOOKS LIKE YOU MISSED YOUR XING RESTR.' SURE ENOUGH, UPON FURTHER REVIEW, I DID NOT DSND TO 3000 FT, EVEN THOUGH THIS PUTS THE ACFT BELOW THE GS, 14 MI FROM THE RWY. CHAIN OF EVENTS: BEAUTIFUL DAY, ANTICIPATING THE VISUAL APCH. IT WAS MY HABIT PATTERN TO INTERCEPT THE GS AT LAST GIVEN ALT AS WELL. LULLED INTO COMPLACENCY ON A NICE DAY, EXPECTING THE VISUAL APCH. DID NOT REVIEW THE ILS APCH BEYOND THE FREQ AND COURSE. CORRECTED AS BEST AS POSSIBLE AFTER BEING ADVISED BY ATC. NOTE: IT IS ODD WHEN FLYING AN ILS APCH THAT YOU WOULD HAVE MANDATORY STEP-DOWN ALTS, THAT WHEN COMPLIED WITH, WILL PUT YOU BELOW THE ELECTRONIC GLIDE PATH. THIS IS NOT AN EXCUSE, JUST AN OBSERVATION. I CAN'T RECALL NOTICING THIS ANYWHERE ELSE. REVIEWING THE APCH PROC. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 533320: CLRED TO FO REMAINED AT 4000 FT AND PLANNED TO CATCH THE GS FOR THE VISUAL TO RWY 27. CTLR AT APPROX 14 MI SAID 'ARE YOU GOING TO MAKE THE ALT RESTRS?' ONLY THEN DID I NOTICE MANDATORY RESTRS ON THE APCH. THE CTLR ACTED AS IF IT WAS NO BIG DEAL. WE DSNDED FOR THE REST OF THE APCH.

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.