Narrative:

During fortl 3 STAR into fll, at approximately rsw 122 degrees/19 NM at FL250, ZMA cleared us to cross kubic intersection (rsw 122 degrees/52 NM) at 8000 ft. At rsw 122 degrees/37 NM while passing 15000 ft ZMA queried us as to whether we could make the crossing restr. We replied that it would be tight but 'yes.' at rsw 122 degrees/47 NM while passing 10500 ft we told ZMA that we would not make the 8000 ft crossing altitude at kubic. ZMA seemed annoyed/irritated but acknowledged. No potential conflicts were in the vicinity. We ultimately crossed kubic at 9400 ft. The captain called the controller by phone while we were on the ground at fll. The controller expressed no real concern. How problem arose: ZMA was late in assigning us a crossing altitude. Contributing factor: 60 KT tailwind in descent. Corrective actions: 1) ZMA: assign descent crossing clearance to aircraft earlier in the arrival phase (especially if crossing altitude is below 10000 ft). 2) aircrew should confess early on if unable to comply with crossing altitude clearance, and request different altitude or vector from ATC.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A DC9 DSNDING INTO FLL MISSES ITS ASSIGNED XING ALT BY 1400 FT. FLC STATES CAUSE OF DEV IS LATE CLRNC ASSIGNMENT AND TAILWIND IN ZMA AIRSPACE.

Narrative: DURING FORTL 3 STAR INTO FLL, AT APPROX RSW 122 DEGS/19 NM AT FL250, ZMA CLRED US TO CROSS KUBIC INTXN (RSW 122 DEGS/52 NM) AT 8000 FT. AT RSW 122 DEGS/37 NM WHILE PASSING 15000 FT ZMA QUERIED US AS TO WHETHER WE COULD MAKE THE XING RESTR. WE REPLIED THAT IT WOULD BE TIGHT BUT 'YES.' AT RSW 122 DEGS/47 NM WHILE PASSING 10500 FT WE TOLD ZMA THAT WE WOULD NOT MAKE THE 8000 FT XING ALT AT KUBIC. ZMA SEEMED ANNOYED/IRRITATED BUT ACKNOWLEDGED. NO POTENTIAL CONFLICTS WERE IN THE VICINITY. WE ULTIMATELY CROSSED KUBIC AT 9400 FT. THE CAPT CALLED THE CTLR BY PHONE WHILE WE WERE ON THE GND AT FLL. THE CTLR EXPRESSED NO REAL CONCERN. HOW PROB AROSE: ZMA WAS LATE IN ASSIGNING US A XING ALT. CONTRIBUTING FACTOR: 60 KT TAILWIND IN DSCNT. CORRECTIVE ACTIONS: 1) ZMA: ASSIGN DSCNT XING CLRNC TO ACFT EARLIER IN THE ARR PHASE (ESPECIALLY IF XING ALT IS BELOW 10000 FT). 2) AIRCREW SHOULD CONFESS EARLY ON IF UNABLE TO COMPLY WITH XING ALT CLRNC, AND REQUEST DIFFERENT ALT OR VECTOR FROM ATC.

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.