MD80 crew did not comply with an ATC issued crossing restr in ZLA class east.

Attributes
ACN	630872
Time
Date	200409
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	intersection : symon
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 12000 msl bound upper : 14000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zla.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-80 Series (DC-9-80) Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zla.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B747 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
ASRS Report	630872
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met altitude deviation : undershoot non adherence : company policies non adherence : clearance non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	atc equipment other atc equipment : radar aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : altimeters other controllera other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

We were turned off course 20 degrees for a heavy B747 we were in trail of. Eventually we were cleared back on course. We were told to cross symon at 12000 ft, a few mins later we were told to slow to 250 KTS. I disconnected performance and slowed with vertical speed to 250 KTS. My first officer and I were both very intent on the B747 traffic and I didn't reconnect performance. When I realized we were high we were just overhead symon at 14000 ft. ATC cleared us to 10000 ft and there was no conflict, nothing was said by us or ATC. Sometimes it is better to use the old one guy fly, the other look out the window, but we both spotted the traffic at the same time while I should have just stayed heads down.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MD80 CREW DID NOT COMPLY WITH AN ATC ISSUED XING RESTR IN ZLA CLASS E.

Narrative: WE WERE TURNED OFF COURSE 20 DEGS FOR A HVY B747 WE WERE IN TRAIL OF. EVENTUALLY WE WERE CLRED BACK ON COURSE. WE WERE TOLD TO CROSS SYMON AT 12000 FT, A FEW MINS LATER WE WERE TOLD TO SLOW TO 250 KTS. I DISCONNECTED PERFORMANCE AND SLOWED WITH VERT SPD TO 250 KTS. MY FO AND I WERE BOTH VERY INTENT ON THE B747 TFC AND I DIDN'T RECONNECT PERFORMANCE. WHEN I REALIZED WE WERE HIGH WE WERE JUST OVERHEAD SYMON AT 14000 FT. ATC CLRED US TO 10000 FT AND THERE WAS NO CONFLICT, NOTHING WAS SAID BY US OR ATC. SOMETIMES IT IS BETTER TO USE THE OLD ONE GUY FLY, THE OTHER LOOK OUT THE WINDOW, BUT WE BOTH SPOTTED THE TFC AT THE SAME TIME WHILE I SHOULD HAVE JUST STAYED HEADS DOWN.

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.