Narrative:

While inbound on the erlin arrival; ZTL issued us a crossing restr to cross the drakk intersection at FL330. We had been slowed to mach .76 and were in a 500 FPM descent out of FL370. I read back the clearance; set the altitude encoder and entered FL330 into the FMS at the drakk waypoint. I stated 'FL330' for the encoder and again for the FMS. My first officer was the PF and was involved in a civil war book. He verbally acknowledged both inputs. I assumed he would increase his rate of descent when reaching the 3 degree descent point. Only the PF is displayed the FMS suggested rate of descent even though both indicate a 'snow flake' at 3 degrees. I made a mental note to rechk his FMS rate. By the time we reached drakk; ZTL told us to remain at FL350; which is where we ended up. A while later we were given a TA for traffic 1000 ft below us. Remainder of flight was uneventful. I always have a policy to descend immediately when flying and given restrs as small as 1000-2000 ft. They seem to sneak up quicker. As the PNF; I should insist the other pilot follow such a policy. We agreed to pay closer attention.

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CRJ 700 FLT CREW FAILED TO MEET A CROSSING RESTRICTION. THE FLYING PLT HEARD ONLY A PORTION OF THE RESTRICTION.

Narrative: WHILE INBOUND ON THE ERLIN ARR; ZTL ISSUED US A XING RESTR TO CROSS THE DRAKK INTXN AT FL330. WE HAD BEEN SLOWED TO MACH .76 AND WERE IN A 500 FPM DSCNT OUT OF FL370. I READ BACK THE CLRNC; SET THE ALT ENCODER AND ENTERED FL330 INTO THE FMS AT THE DRAKK WAYPOINT. I STATED 'FL330' FOR THE ENCODER AND AGAIN FOR THE FMS. MY FO WAS THE PF AND WAS INVOLVED IN A CIVIL WAR BOOK. HE VERBALLY ACKNOWLEDGED BOTH INPUTS. I ASSUMED HE WOULD INCREASE HIS RATE OF DSCNT WHEN REACHING THE 3 DEG DSCNT POINT. ONLY THE PF IS DISPLAYED THE FMS SUGGESTED RATE OF DSCNT EVEN THOUGH BOTH INDICATE A 'SNOW FLAKE' AT 3 DEGS. I MADE A MENTAL NOTE TO RECHK HIS FMS RATE. BY THE TIME WE REACHED DRAKK; ZTL TOLD US TO REMAIN AT FL350; WHICH IS WHERE WE ENDED UP. A WHILE LATER WE WERE GIVEN A TA FOR TFC 1000 FT BELOW US. REMAINDER OF FLT WAS UNEVENTFUL. I ALWAYS HAVE A POLICY TO DSND IMMEDIATELY WHEN FLYING AND GIVEN RESTRS AS SMALL AS 1000-2000 FT. THEY SEEM TO SNEAK UP QUICKER. AS THE PNF; I SHOULD INSIST THE OTHER PLT FOLLOW SUCH A POLICY. WE AGREED TO PAY CLOSER ATTN.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.