Narrative:

As flight ind-sfo, we had leveled at FL240, an intermediate altitude during our descent from FL350 approaching pye. The next controller told us to, 'expect to descend, so as to cross sfo 20 DME northwest at 230 KTS and 11000'. Turn right 20 degrees for descent.' we turned right as instructed and I noted that we would cross about 30 NM north of sfo on the new heading and remarked to the first officer about the indefinite descent clearance. The first officer said that he thought that we should start descent 'now.' I understood the instruction to be, 'expect to cross at 11000'.' we inquired. The controller crossly responded that he had told us to descend to cross the 20 DME northwest at 230 KTS, 11000'. I responded that this heading would never intercept that point and that we had not been instructed to, 'start descent.' the controller turned us even further away and to start descent to 11000'. He changed us to another frequency. The new controller advised us to continue our descent to 11000' and that he would turn us toward sfo soon. Shortly afterward we were cleared direct to sfo out of 18000', and asked if we could cross 20 northwest at 230 KTS, 11000'. We responded that we thought that it would be close. A little later as we approaching 20 northwest, I knew that would be high or fast and advised the controller. The controller gave us a heading of 100 degrees and continue to 11000'. Remainder of flight was completed west/O incident.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR X FLT CREW NON ADHERENCE TO ATC CLRNC.

Narrative: AS FLT IND-SFO, WE HAD LEVELED AT FL240, AN INTERMEDIATE ALT DURING OUR DSNT FROM FL350 APCHING PYE. THE NEXT CTLR TOLD US TO, 'EXPECT TO DSND, SO AS TO CROSS SFO 20 DME NW AT 230 KTS AND 11000'. TURN RIGHT 20 DEGS FOR DSNT.' WE TURNED RIGHT AS INSTRUCTED AND I NOTED THAT WE WOULD CROSS ABOUT 30 NM N OF SFO ON THE NEW HDG AND REMARKED TO THE F/O ABOUT THE INDEFINITE DSNT CLRNC. THE F/O SAID THAT HE THOUGHT THAT WE SHOULD START DSNT 'NOW.' I UNDERSTOOD THE INSTRUCTION TO BE, 'EXPECT TO CROSS AT 11000'.' WE INQUIRED. THE CTLR CROSSLY RESPONDED THAT HE HAD TOLD US TO DSND TO CROSS THE 20 DME NW AT 230 KTS, 11000'. I RESPONDED THAT THIS HDG WOULD NEVER INTERCEPT THAT POINT AND THAT WE HAD NOT BEEN INSTRUCTED TO, 'START DSNT.' THE CTLR TURNED US EVEN FURTHER AWAY AND TO START DSNT TO 11000'. HE CHANGED US TO ANOTHER FREQ. THE NEW CTLR ADVISED US TO CONTINUE OUR DSNT TO 11000' AND THAT HE WOULD TURN US TOWARD SFO SOON. SHORTLY AFTERWARD WE WERE CLRED DIRECT TO SFO OUT OF 18000', AND ASKED IF WE COULD CROSS 20 NW AT 230 KTS, 11000'. WE RESPONDED THAT WE THOUGHT THAT IT WOULD BE CLOSE. A LITTLE LATER AS WE APCHING 20 NW, I KNEW THAT WOULD BE HIGH OR FAST AND ADVISED THE CTLR. THE CTLR GAVE US A HDG OF 100 DEGS AND CONTINUE TO 11000'. REMAINDER OF FLT WAS COMPLETED W/O INCIDENT.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 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.