A319 flight crew questions ATC clearance crossing restr.

Attributes
ACN	583431
Time
Date	200306
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	intersection : saltn
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 24000 msl bound upper : 27000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zla.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	A319
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	descent : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	arrival star : baret
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 240 flight time total : 17800 flight time type : 2800
ASRS Report	583431
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met altitude deviation : undershoot
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

On baret four arrival into san, giving crossing restr 24000 ft at saltn intersection. About 8 mi northeast saltn, ATC stated 'best rate 24000 ft' final ATC clearance prior to crossing saltn -- best rate 24000 ft supercedes prior clearance restr.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A319 FLT CREW QUESTIONS ATC CLRNC XING RESTR.

Narrative: ON BARET FOUR ARR INTO SAN, GIVING XING RESTR 24000 FT AT SALTN INTXN. ABOUT 8 MI NE SALTN, ATC STATED 'BEST RATE 24000 FT' FINAL ATC CLRNC PRIOR TO XING SALTN -- BEST RATE 24000 FT SUPERCEDES PRIOR CLRNC RESTR.

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.