MD88 flight crew fails to maintain speed restr for spacing.

Attributes
ACN	329860
Time
Date	199603
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : day
State Reference	OH
Altitude	msl bound lower : 21000 msl bound upper : 21000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zid
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-88
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 7000 flight time type : 1000
ASRS Report	329860
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance non adherence : far other anomaly
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Our MD88 was en route from cincinnati to detroit. On climb out passing about 12000 ft, the controller told us to maintain 280 KTS for spacing. I put 280 KTS in the FMS climb page and the aircraft VV1 increased to lose the airspeed. We were to cruise at only 21000 ft and when we reached the altitude, we had switched controllers and I wrongfully assumed they no longer needed the speed until the new controller (ZID) asked us to turn 20 degrees left for spacing. I checked the airspeed and found the aircraft accelerating towards 320 KTS because I had not entered 280 KTS in the cruise page of the FMS. The FMS went to 'econ cruise' upon level off and we accelerated past 280 KTS. I asked the controller if he still needed the speed and he said of course he did. We slowed back to 280 KTS again and were subsequently cleared back on course. Undoubtedly I caused the problem by putting the speed only in the FMS climb page assuming it would be deleted by the time we got to cruise. Since we were only at FL210, cruise came sooner than normal and we still were restr. The controller did a good job recognizing our decreasing separation and giving us the spacing vector. In the future, I should put the restr in the airspeed override portion of the FMS and not just on the climb page, or if I do use the climb page, I should also input the speed into the cruise page.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MD88 FLC FAILS TO MAINTAIN SPD RESTR FOR SPACING.

Narrative: OUR MD88 WAS ENRTE FROM CINCINNATI TO DETROIT. ON CLBOUT PASSING ABOUT 12000 FT, THE CTLR TOLD US TO MAINTAIN 280 KTS FOR SPACING. I PUT 280 KTS IN THE FMS CLB PAGE AND THE ACFT VV1 INCREASED TO LOSE THE AIRSPD. WE WERE TO CRUISE AT ONLY 21000 FT AND WHEN WE REACHED THE ALT, WE HAD SWITCHED CTLRS AND I WRONGFULLY ASSUMED THEY NO LONGER NEEDED THE SPD UNTIL THE NEW CTLR (ZID) ASKED US TO TURN 20 DEGS L FOR SPACING. I CHKED THE AIRSPD AND FOUND THE ACFT ACCELERATING TOWARDS 320 KTS BECAUSE I HAD NOT ENTERED 280 KTS IN THE CRUISE PAGE OF THE FMS. THE FMS WENT TO 'ECON CRUISE' UPON LEVEL OFF AND WE ACCELERATED PAST 280 KTS. I ASKED THE CTLR IF HE STILL NEEDED THE SPD AND HE SAID OF COURSE HE DID. WE SLOWED BACK TO 280 KTS AGAIN AND WERE SUBSEQUENTLY CLRED BACK ON COURSE. UNDOUBTEDLY I CAUSED THE PROB BY PUTTING THE SPD ONLY IN THE FMS CLB PAGE ASSUMING IT WOULD BE DELETED BY THE TIME WE GOT TO CRUISE. SINCE WE WERE ONLY AT FL210, CRUISE CAME SOONER THAN NORMAL AND WE STILL WERE RESTR. THE CTLR DID A GOOD JOB RECOGNIZING OUR DECREASING SEPARATION AND GIVING US THE SPACING VECTOR. IN THE FUTURE, I SHOULD PUT THE RESTR IN THE AIRSPD OVERRIDE PORTION OF THE FMS AND NOT JUST ON THE CLB PAGE, OR IF I DO USE THE CLB PAGE, I SHOULD ALSO INPUT THE SPD INTO THE CRUISE PAGE.

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.