Narrative:

While on the eldee 3 arrival into dca operating an EMB135; we descended early when cleared to descend 'via the eldee 3 RNAV arrival.' our position was just before doccs intersection on the eldee 3. We were instructed to cross doccs at and maintain 15000 ft. We arrived at 15000 ft a few mi before doccs. Upon reaching around doccs intersection; ATC instructed us to descend 'via the eldee 3 arrival.' between doccs intersection; and ldn VOR; we started to descend 'via the eldee 3;' which would eventually have us cross eldee at 8000 ft. Due to the confused interpretation of the arrival; we both agreed that the only crossing restr we had to be concerned with are pugee at or above 12000 ft; and wzrrd at or above 10000 ft. Both of us neglected to see that ldn and morty were both cross at 15000 ft. As stated previously; we started to descend just before ldn. ATC called out our mistake when we were around 13500 ft; and instructed us to descend and maintain 12000 ft; and cancel any previous arrival descent clrncs. After continuing on the arrival for a little while; ATC then instructed us to cross eldee at 8000 ft. We did that as instructed and there were no further problems; and landed without event in dca. As a note; the controller expressed some concern that they have had many problems with that particular arrival. This event occurred because of both of the pilots' neglect to study each fix; and its associated altitude crossing restr. This problem could have been prevented if the crew studied the arrival a little more carefully; and paid attention to each and every fix; and all altitude restrs.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: E135 FLT CREW'S COMPLACENCY CONTRIBUTES TO AN ALTDEV ON THE ELDEE RNAV STAR TO DCA.

Narrative: WHILE ON THE ELDEE 3 ARR INTO DCA OPERATING AN EMB135; WE DSNDED EARLY WHEN CLRED TO DSND 'VIA THE ELDEE 3 RNAV ARR.' OUR POS WAS JUST BEFORE DOCCS INTXN ON THE ELDEE 3. WE WERE INSTRUCTED TO CROSS DOCCS AT AND MAINTAIN 15000 FT. WE ARRIVED AT 15000 FT A FEW MI BEFORE DOCCS. UPON REACHING AROUND DOCCS INTXN; ATC INSTRUCTED US TO DSND 'VIA THE ELDEE 3 ARR.' BTWN DOCCS INTXN; AND LDN VOR; WE STARTED TO DSND 'VIA THE ELDEE 3;' WHICH WOULD EVENTUALLY HAVE US CROSS ELDEE AT 8000 FT. DUE TO THE CONFUSED INTERP OF THE ARR; WE BOTH AGREED THAT THE ONLY XING RESTR WE HAD TO BE CONCERNED WITH ARE PUGEE AT OR ABOVE 12000 FT; AND WZRRD AT OR ABOVE 10000 FT. BOTH OF US NEGLECTED TO SEE THAT LDN AND MORTY WERE BOTH CROSS AT 15000 FT. AS STATED PREVIOUSLY; WE STARTED TO DSND JUST BEFORE LDN. ATC CALLED OUT OUR MISTAKE WHEN WE WERE AROUND 13500 FT; AND INSTRUCTED US TO DSND AND MAINTAIN 12000 FT; AND CANCEL ANY PREVIOUS ARR DSCNT CLRNCS. AFTER CONTINUING ON THE ARR FOR A LITTLE WHILE; ATC THEN INSTRUCTED US TO CROSS ELDEE AT 8000 FT. WE DID THAT AS INSTRUCTED AND THERE WERE NO FURTHER PROBS; AND LANDED WITHOUT EVENT IN DCA. AS A NOTE; THE CTLR EXPRESSED SOME CONCERN THAT THEY HAVE HAD MANY PROBS WITH THAT PARTICULAR ARR. THIS EVENT OCCURRED BECAUSE OF BOTH OF THE PLTS' NEGLECT TO STUDY EACH FIX; AND ITS ASSOCIATED ALT XING RESTR. THIS PROB COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED IF THE CREW STUDIED THE ARR A LITTLE MORE CAREFULLY; AND PAID ATTN TO EACH AND EVERY FIX; AND ALL ALT RESTRS.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of May 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.