Narrative:

We were in descent from 12000 ft to 7000 ft. ATC did not say if they needed speed or altitude. We were a little late, so, I kept speed up to 10000 ft then slowed. ATC seemed upset because we were gaining on (aircraft) ahead. ATC issued a vector for spacing. Then from 7000 ft to 4000 ft we were given a new speed of 210 KTS and a vector to intercept lga 222 degree radial inbound, this time thinking he must need speed first we slowed our descent to acquire 210 KTS. But ATC was mad that we were not down to 4000 ft fast enough. We were also given 30 degree left turn then 60 degree right turn to intercept lga 222 degree radial. With such large turns we went through 222 degree radial by approximately 1 mi. I was asked to call on ground. ATC should always say, if spacing is tight, what they need altitude or speed.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLC OF AN MLG FAILED TO MAINTAIN SPD AND DSCNT RATE REQUESTED BY ATC RESULTING IN THE NEED FOR ATC TO ISSUE MANY VECTORS TO AVOID TFC.

Narrative: WE WERE IN DSCNT FROM 12000 FT TO 7000 FT. ATC DID NOT SAY IF THEY NEEDED SPD OR ALT. WE WERE A LITTLE LATE, SO, I KEPT SPD UP TO 10000 FT THEN SLOWED. ATC SEEMED UPSET BECAUSE WE WERE GAINING ON (ACFT) AHEAD. ATC ISSUED A VECTOR FOR SPACING. THEN FROM 7000 FT TO 4000 FT WE WERE GIVEN A NEW SPD OF 210 KTS AND A VECTOR TO INTERCEPT LGA 222 DEG RADIAL INBOUND, THIS TIME THINKING HE MUST NEED SPD FIRST WE SLOWED OUR DSCNT TO ACQUIRE 210 KTS. BUT ATC WAS MAD THAT WE WERE NOT DOWN TO 4000 FT FAST ENOUGH. WE WERE ALSO GIVEN 30 DEG L TURN THEN 60 DEG R TURN TO INTERCEPT LGA 222 DEG RADIAL. WITH SUCH LARGE TURNS WE WENT THROUGH 222 DEG RADIAL BY APPROX 1 MI. I WAS ASKED TO CALL ON GND. ATC SHOULD ALWAYS SAY, IF SPACING IS TIGHT, WHAT THEY NEED ALT OR SPD.

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.