DSNDING ACFT UNABLE TO CROSS FIX AT ASSIGNED ALT.

Narrative

WHILE LEVEL AT 19000 FT; WE WERE GIVEN CLRNC TO 'CROSS HOLEY INTXN AT 11000 FT.' WE HAVE DONE THIS ARR MANY TIMES BEFORE AND WERE VERY FAMILIAR WITH IT (ROBBINSVILLE ONE ARR TO EWR). THOUGH THE CLRNC TO CROSS HOLEY AT 11000 FT WAS ISSUED LATER THAN NORMAL; WE WERE CAPABLE OF COMPLYING AND ACCEPTED THE CLRNC. THE FO (PF) ELECTED TO USE THE VERT NAV PORTION OF OUR FMS TO DSND. HE HAD SOME DIFFICULTY GETTING THE FMS TO START THE DSCNT. THE PROCESS OF PUNCHING BUTTONS DISTRACTED BOTH OF US. BY THE TIME WE STARTED DOWN WE WERE WELL BEHIND PROFILE. DESPITE THE USE OF SPD BRAKES AND ENGS AT IDLE; WE CROSSED HOLEY AT APPROX 13000 FT; WHILE DSNDING AT MORE THAN 3000 FPM. WE DID NOT CAUSE ANY CONFLICTS THAT WE ARE AWARE OF AND THE CTLR DID NOT SAY ANYTHING. IN HINDSIGHT; WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN ANTICIPATING THE RAPID DSCNT AND HAD BEEN READY WITH THE FMS (AND QUICKER WITH THE FMS). IT WOULD ALSO HAVE BEEN BETTER IF WE HAD NOT LET THE BUTTON PUSHING DISTRACT US FROM THE TASK AT HAND. POSITIONAL AWARENESS SUFFERS WHEN BOTH PLTS HAVE THEIR HEADS DOWN; PROGRAMMING A COMPUTER.