A pct controller described an arrival for dca that was issued a 'descend via' the eldee STAR that en...

Narrative:

Air carrier inbound to dca was on the wzrrd 2 arrival approximately ten miles west of doccs intersection. On initial contact; I cleared the aircraft on the eldee 4. Then descend via the eldee 4. The eldee 4 is an RNAV arrival with vertical navigation. Approximately over ldn the aircraft appeared to have started their descent. I told them to check their altitude and gave the altimeter. I observed the aircraft descend below 14;300 before climbing again to 15;000. The crew upon the 'check your altitude' responded; 'you told us to descend via.' this is true; however the descent for the arrival began 9 miles from ldn. This is a pervasive problem at the potomac TRACON and has been brought to the attention of local and national management. They apparently choose to wait for something catastrophic to happen before recognizing and fixing this problem.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A PCT Controller described an arrival for DCA that was issued a 'descend via' the ELDEE STAR that ended with a missed crossing restriction.

Narrative: Air carrier inbound to DCA was on the WZRRD 2 arrival approximately ten miles west of DOCCS intersection. On initial contact; I cleared the aircraft on the ELDEE 4. Then descend via the ELDEE 4. The ELDEE 4 is an RNAV arrival with vertical navigation. Approximately over LDN the aircraft appeared to have started their descent. I told them to check their altitude and gave the altimeter. I observed the aircraft descend below 14;300 before climbing again to 15;000. The crew upon the 'check your altitude' responded; 'You told us to descend via.' This is true; however the descent for the arrival began 9 miles from LDN. This is a pervasive problem at the Potomac TRACON and has been brought to the attention of local and national management. They apparently choose to wait for something catastrophic to happen before recognizing and fixing this problem.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.

Attributes
ACN	848558
Time
Date	200908
Local Time Of Day	0601-1200
Place
Locale Reference	DCA.TRACON
State Reference	DC
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Descent
Route In Use	STAR ELDEE 4
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Approach
Qualification	Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Experience	Air Traffic Control Radar 22 Flight Crew Total 160
Events
Anomaly	Deviation - Procedural Clearance Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy

A pct controller described an arrival for dca that was issued a 'descend via' the eldee STAR that ended with a missed crossing restriction.