Flight crew phraseology comprehension -- at clearance.

Attributes
ACN	294530
Time
Date	199501
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : pie airport : tpa
State Reference	FL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 10000 msl bound upper : 12000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zma
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B727 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	arrival other enroute : direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 14000 flight time type : 9000
ASRS Report	294530
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

Flight from dfw to tpa. While on the blond arrival into tpa we were cleared direct 'tampa' and to cross 30 mi from tampa at 10000 ft. I set up the st petersburg VOR (no tampa VOR) and the captain set up the omega for direct tampa. About 45 DME I mentioned to the captain that we had a high ground speed and I reminded him of the clearance. He increased the rate of descent but we crossed the 30 DME fix at 12000 ft descending. We leveled at 10000 ft a few mi later. I commented to the captain but he reminded me that the clearance was to cross 30 mi from 'tampa' at 10000 ft and the omega showed us at 31 mi to go. Later the controller, who must have noticed the situation commented about 1 strong tailwind. Nothing else was said. No conflict evolved. The problem was a lack of understanding. We did cross 30 mi from tampa at 10000 ft, however, I assumed the controller wanted us to be at 10000 ft at the 30 DME arc from st petersburg VOR. The controller should be more specific and I should have asked.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLC PHRASEOLOGY COMPREHENSION -- AT CLRNC.

Narrative: FLT FROM DFW TO TPA. WHILE ON THE BLOND ARR INTO TPA WE WERE CLRED DIRECT 'TAMPA' AND TO CROSS 30 MI FROM TAMPA AT 10000 FT. I SET UP THE ST PETERSBURG VOR (NO TAMPA VOR) AND THE CAPT SET UP THE OMEGA FOR DIRECT TAMPA. ABOUT 45 DME I MENTIONED TO THE CAPT THAT WE HAD A HIGH GND SPD AND I REMINDED HIM OF THE CLRNC. HE INCREASED THE RATE OF DSCNT BUT WE CROSSED THE 30 DME FIX AT 12000 FT DSNDING. WE LEVELED AT 10000 FT A FEW MI LATER. I COMMENTED TO THE CAPT BUT HE REMINDED ME THAT THE CLRNC WAS TO CROSS 30 MI FROM 'TAMPA' AT 10000 FT AND THE OMEGA SHOWED US AT 31 MI TO GO. LATER THE CTLR, WHO MUST HAVE NOTICED THE SIT COMMENTED ABOUT 1 STRONG TAILWIND. NOTHING ELSE WAS SAID. NO CONFLICT EVOLVED. THE PROB WAS A LACK OF UNDERSTANDING. WE DID CROSS 30 MI FROM TAMPA AT 10000 FT, HOWEVER, I ASSUMED THE CTLR WANTED US TO BE AT 10000 FT AT THE 30 DME ARC FROM ST PETERSBURG VOR. THE CTLR SHOULD BE MORE SPECIFIC AND I SHOULD HAVE ASKED.

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.