Misread navigation and missed crossing restriction assumed DME distance 89 versus 43.

Attributes
ACN	87058
Time
Date	198805
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : djb
State Reference	OH
Altitude	msl bound lower : 25000 msl bound upper : 25000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zob
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	enroute airway : zob
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 163 flight time total : 4760 flight time type : 350
ASRS Report	87058
Person 2
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Flight was positioned over dryer VORTAC at approximately FL250 when cleared by ATC to cross 'tripe' intersection at and maintain 12000 MSL. The captain and first officer using there own charts located 'tripe' fix via dryer VORTAC 314 degree radial at 89 DME from dryer. The error has been made, the correct DME is 43 from dryer VORTAC. ATC questioned flight if able to make crossing restriction, 36 DME from dryer level at FL250. Flight acknowledged tripe is 89 DME out of dryer. ATC instructed flight you only have 7 NM till 'tripe' intersection, but no problem your revised clearance is radar vectors detroit turn right heading 360 degree descend and maintain 12000 MSL. Contributing factors : night time, light turbulence and congested low altitude enroute charts make it difficult to read. Corrective action: the use of STAR's and profile descent's can help prevent these errors.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MISREAD NAV AND MISSED CROSSING RESTRICTION ASSUMED DME DISTANCE 89 VERSUS 43.

Narrative: FLT WAS POSITIONED OVER DRYER VORTAC AT APPROX FL250 WHEN CLRED BY ATC TO CROSS 'TRIPE' INTERSECTION AT AND MAINTAIN 12000 MSL. THE CAPT AND F/O USING THERE OWN CHARTS LOCATED 'TRIPE' FIX VIA DRYER VORTAC 314 DEG RADIAL AT 89 DME FROM DRYER. THE ERROR HAS BEEN MADE, THE CORRECT DME IS 43 FROM DRYER VORTAC. ATC QUESTIONED FLT IF ABLE TO MAKE XING RESTRICTION, 36 DME FROM DRYER LEVEL AT FL250. FLT ACKNOWLEDGED TRIPE IS 89 DME OUT OF DRYER. ATC INSTRUCTED FLT YOU ONLY HAVE 7 NM TILL 'TRIPE' INTERSECTION, BUT NO PROBLEM YOUR REVISED CLRNC IS RADAR VECTORS DETROIT TURN RIGHT HEADING 360 DEG DESCEND AND MAINTAIN 12000 MSL. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS : NIGHT TIME, LIGHT TURBULENCE AND CONGESTED LOW ALT ENROUTE CHARTS MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO READ. CORRECTIVE ACTION: THE USE OF STAR'S AND PROFILE DESCENT'S CAN HELP PREVENT THESE ERRORS.

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