Flight crew deviations from assigned speed.

Attributes
ACN	314579
Time
Date	199508
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : pit
State Reference	PA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 4000 msl bound upper : 4000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : pit
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-300
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
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 : 180 flight time total : 9000 flight time type : 1100
ASRS Report	314579
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance other anomaly
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course other
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation other
Situations
ATC Facility	procedure or policy : unspecified

Narrative:

I was flying. We had been told to maintain 210 KTS and a visual approach to runway 28R. On downwind leg abeam the approach end and 1 mi north of runway 28R, I slowed to 170 KTS. The controller said 'fly heading 140 degree, maintain 3000 ft, expect visual approach to runway 14.' established on the new heading the controller said 'what's your airspeed?' the captain said '170 KTS, we were expecting runway 28R.' the controller said 'it doesn't matter, I assigned you 210 KTS.' I accelerated to 210 KTS. The approach controllers move a lot of traffic into pit in a short time, but they frequently make unreasonable requests requiring either an unstable approach or a go around. Unstable approachs and gars scare the passenger so we try to avoid them, which is what I was doing, expecting a short approach to runway 28R. As far as we know there was no traffic conflict.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLC DEVS FROM ASSIGNED SPD.

Narrative: I WAS FLYING. WE HAD BEEN TOLD TO MAINTAIN 210 KTS AND A VISUAL APCH TO RWY 28R. ON DOWNWIND LEG ABEAM THE APCH END AND 1 MI N OF RWY 28R, I SLOWED TO 170 KTS. THE CTLR SAID 'FLY HDG 140 DEG, MAINTAIN 3000 FT, EXPECT VISUAL APCH TO RWY 14.' ESTABLISHED ON THE NEW HDG THE CTLR SAID 'WHAT'S YOUR AIRSPD?' THE CAPT SAID '170 KTS, WE WERE EXPECTING RWY 28R.' THE CTLR SAID 'IT DOESN'T MATTER, I ASSIGNED YOU 210 KTS.' I ACCELERATED TO 210 KTS. THE APCH CTLRS MOVE A LOT OF TFC INTO PIT IN A SHORT TIME, BUT THEY FREQUENTLY MAKE UNREASONABLE REQUESTS REQUIRING EITHER AN UNSTABLE APCH OR A GAR. UNSTABLE APCHS AND GARS SCARE THE PAX SO WE TRY TO AVOID THEM, WHICH IS WHAT I WAS DOING, EXPECTING A SHORT APCH TO RWY 28R. AS FAR AS WE KNOW THERE WAS NO TFC CONFLICT.

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.