An air carrier MD80 crew speeded up their aircraft too soon according to the ZNY radar controller.

Attributes
ACN	351029
Time
Date	199610
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : fqm airport : ewr
State Reference	PA
Environment
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zny
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-80 Super 80
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	arrival other arrival star : star enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
ASRS Report	351029
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
ASRS Report	351030
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance other anomaly
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

About 20 mi west of fqm VOR on FQM1 arrival to ewr, we were given a heading of 170 degrees and instructed to slow as much as practical. We were given a heading which took us almost direct to fqm VOR and told to increase speed to 300 KTS upon reintercepting the arrival. The intercept heading of approximately 60 degrees gave us nearly a 60 degree intercept angle on the course outbound from fqm. I was making my final PA to the passenger when the clearance to reintercept was given. Since I always continue to monitor the ATC radio when giving a PA, I heard the instructions. Just south of the VOR, we began a turn to intercept the 118 degree radial from fqm and the first officer let the speed increase to 300 KTS in the turn. We considered ourselves back on the arrival at this point. ZNY then called and asked our airspeed which we stated was 300 KTS. Center then said we were to have remained at the reduced speed until on course so he gave us another vector for spacing. We felt we had complied with the original instructions since we were turning to intercept course when we began our speed increase. Apparently center wanted us established on the outbound radial before the speed was increased.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN ACR MD80 CREW SPEEDED UP THEIR ACFT TOO SOON ACCORDING TO THE ZNY RADAR CTLR.

Narrative: ABOUT 20 MI W OF FQM VOR ON FQM1 ARR TO EWR, WE WERE GIVEN A HDG OF 170 DEGS AND INSTRUCTED TO SLOW AS MUCH AS PRACTICAL. WE WERE GIVEN A HDG WHICH TOOK US ALMOST DIRECT TO FQM VOR AND TOLD TO INCREASE SPD TO 300 KTS UPON REINTERCEPTING THE ARR. THE INTERCEPT HDG OF APPROX 60 DEGS GAVE US NEARLY A 60 DEG INTERCEPT ANGLE ON THE COURSE OUTBOUND FROM FQM. I WAS MAKING MY FINAL PA TO THE PAX WHEN THE CLRNC TO REINTERCEPT WAS GIVEN. SINCE I ALWAYS CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE ATC RADIO WHEN GIVING A PA, I HEARD THE INSTRUCTIONS. JUST S OF THE VOR, WE BEGAN A TURN TO INTERCEPT THE 118 DEG RADIAL FROM FQM AND THE FO LET THE SPD INCREASE TO 300 KTS IN THE TURN. WE CONSIDERED OURSELVES BACK ON THE ARR AT THIS POINT. ZNY THEN CALLED AND ASKED OUR AIRSPD WHICH WE STATED WAS 300 KTS. CTR THEN SAID WE WERE TO HAVE REMAINED AT THE REDUCED SPD UNTIL ON COURSE SO HE GAVE US ANOTHER VECTOR FOR SPACING. WE FELT WE HAD COMPLIED WITH THE ORIGINAL INSTRUCTIONS SINCE WE WERE TURNING TO INTERCEPT COURSE WHEN WE BEGAN OUR SPD INCREASE. APPARENTLY CTR WANTED US ESTABLISHED ON THE OUTBOUND RADIAL BEFORE THE SPD WAS INCREASED.

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.