Altitude deviation, crossing restriction not met.

Attributes
ACN	95531
Time
Date	198810
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : ott
State Reference	MD
Altitude	msl bound lower : 29000 msl bound upper : 33000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	descent : approach descent other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 60 flight time total : 17000 flight time type : 15
ASRS Report	95531
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 6500 flight time type : 600
ASRS Report	95425
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met altitude deviation : undershoot 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:

Just after passing ott, we were instructed to cross 30 mi east of ott at and maintain FL290. I thought the clearance was for 50 mi east, and thus did not start the descent at the appropriate time. The first officer mentioned at least twice that: 'we're approaching 30 mi,' but I was so preoccupied with reprogramming the FMC that his warnings didn't register with me. At 30 mi east, center queried us and instructed us to begin descent immediately. The major reason for the incident was my lack of experience in the aircraft and excessive attention toward operating the FMC correctly.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ALT DEVIATION, CROSSING RESTRICTION NOT MET.

Narrative: JUST AFTER PASSING OTT, WE WERE INSTRUCTED TO CROSS 30 MI E OF OTT AT AND MAINTAIN FL290. I THOUGHT THE CLRNC WAS FOR 50 MI E, AND THUS DID NOT START THE DSCNT AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME. THE F/O MENTIONED AT LEAST TWICE THAT: 'WE'RE APCHING 30 MI,' BUT I WAS SO PREOCCUPIED WITH REPROGRAMMING THE FMC THAT HIS WARNINGS DIDN'T REGISTER WITH ME. AT 30 MI E, CENTER QUERIED US AND INSTRUCTED US TO BEGIN DSCNT IMMEDIATELY. THE MAJOR REASON FOR THE INCIDENT WAS MY LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN THE ACFT AND EXCESSIVE ATTN TOWARD OPERATING THE FMC CORRECTLY.

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.