Regional Jet 700 ER/LR (CRJ700)
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Human-Machine Interface; Distraction; Communication Breakdown
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Deviation - Altitude Crossing Restriction Not Met; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance
Aircraft; Human Factors
We were cruising at FL350 when Center cleared us to cross 30 north of CORKR at FL330. I was the pilot not flying and read the clearance back to Center correctly. My First Officer entered 'CORKR/-30' into the FMS and put it into LSK2 and I confirmed it. I don't remember verifying the change with the altitude pre-select knob; or the altitude entered in the FMS for the new clearance. While we were descending through FL330; Center advised us to climb and maintain FL330. Then before we could respond; they advised us to climb and maintain FL330 and turn left 30 degrees. We saw traffic at FL320 off to our right; and it was then that I noticed our mistake; and that our altitude pre-select was set to FL300. The First Officer disengaged the auto-pilot; and initiated the climbing left turn. Center then asked us to verify that we were assigned FL330; and I confirmed the clearance.Several things contributed to this event. The similar-sounding clearance was confusing...'30 miles and FL330.' Another factor was complacency on my part. I neglected to confirm the assigned altitude on the altitude pre-select. And finally; we had a jumpseater that created a distraction because I was involved in a conversation with him at the time.Selecting the newly-assigned altitude with the ALT knob on the pre-select first; and then setting up the FMS would help eliminate some confusion. Making sure I confirm the assigned altitude is entered into the FMS along with the assigned fix and not allowing a jumpseater to distract me during the flight would also be of help.
[No substantive additional information was included in the secondary narrative.]
A CRJ-700 flight crew failed to properly program the altitude alert and the FMS to properly schedule a crossing restriction from ATC. They descended below the crossing and conflicted with aircraft below. ATC caught the error and a correction was made in a timely fashion.