XING RESTR NOT MET.

Narrative

ACFT PROGRAMMED TO CROSS LIZZI AT 11000 FT FROM 13000 FT. ACFT DID NOT RESPOND TO PROGRAM AND ACFT DSNDED AUTOPLT OFF. AUTOPLT ENGAGED AND VNAV SELECTED. ACFT BEGAN AN IMMEDIATE CLB DISREGARDING THE 11000 FT SET IN THE ALT WINDOW. THIS SCENARIO RESULTED IN A MISSED ALT XING RESTR AND AN ALT EXCURSION FROM THE CLB. I FEEL THAT HVY RELIANCE ON PROGRAMMED VNAV IN HIGH DENSITY AREAS MAY NOT BE RELIABLE ENOUGH FOR ACCEPTABLE USE. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE RPTR FLIES THE MD-88 FOR A MAJOR UNITED STATES ACR. THIS INCIDENT 'HAPPENED SO QUICKLY; IT WAS A QUESTION OF WHO GOT THERE FIRST.' THE ACFT CLBED 500 FT BEFORE IT WAS BROUGHT BACK TO ALT. THE RPTR KNOWS THAT HE COULD HAVE STOPPED THE CLB EARLIER; BUT MIGHT HAVE HURT SOMEONE IN THE PROCESS. THE PRIMARY PROB WITH THIS ACFT IS THE 'VERY SLOW AUTOPLT TRIM SYS' THAT ALLOWS THE ACFT TO GET OFF OF OR MISS AN ALT. AS THE RPTR WAS FLYING IN THE ZNY AREA; HE WAS SPENDING MORE TIME LOOKING OUT THE WINDOW WHICH DIVERTS ATTN FROM MANAGING THE AUTOPLT. 'NOBODY READS WHILE FLYING THIS ACFT.'