ALTDEV ALT UNDERSHOT IN DSCNT. ALT XING RESTRICTION NOT MADE.

Narrative

THE CLRNC WAS TO CROSS 35 E OF GORDONSVILLE AT 29000. CRUISE ALT WAS 37000. THE PROBLEM WAS MISPLACED TRUST TEMPERED WITH AN EQUAL AMOUNT OF INADEQUATE ATTN. YOU FLY WITH A YOUNG MAN FOR A MONTH AND YOU EVALUATE HIS CAPABILITIES; DEVELOP A SENSE OF TRUST AND CONFIDENCE IF HE IS; IN FACT; 'A GOOD STICK.' I DID THIS. I DEVELOPED A TRUST HE HAD DONE A GOOD JOB ALL MONTH. 'CROSS 35 E OF GORDONSVILLE AT FL290.' I SET THE ALT AND I KNOW HE (MY COPLT) UNDERSTOOD THE RESTRICTION. WE BEGAN THE DSCNT WITH PLENTY OF TIME AND ALT. JUST INTO THE DSCNT; I STARTED TO PICK IT UP -- HOLDING FOR PHL DUE TO RWY LIGHTS OUT. WE DIDN'T HAVE MUCH HOLDING FUEL AND THE DELAYS GIVEN TO ACFT IN FRONT OF US WERE CONSIDERABLE. I CALLED UP BWI'S WX PLANNING FOR A POSSIBLE DIVERSION. EVERYTHING WAS UNDER CTL -- 'BULL' -- I CHK OUR DSCNT AND 'THERE AIN'T NO WAY' WE'RE GOING TO MAKE 290 BY 35 MI. WE'RE AT IDLE PWR AND FULL SPD BRAKES AND STILL MISSED THE XING BY 1700 FT. IT'S EMBARRASSING TO WRITE A NARRATIVE LIKE THIS. I'M AN EXPERIENCED PLT -- A PROFESSIONAL -- NOT THE BEST; BUT I WORK AT IT. WOULDN'T YOU HAVE EXPECTED THE COPLT TO EXTEND THE SPD BRAKES EARLIER IN ORDER TO MAKE THE XING? I DID. I GUESS I'VE GOTTEN A BIT LAZY. I'LL HAVE TO PAY ATTN UNTIL THE FAT LADY IS DONE SINGING.