Flight crew of a super MD80 declared an emergency and descended when their aircraft could not maintain a safe flying speed at assigned cruise altitude due to the aircraft gross weight.

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Attributes
ACN	403716
Time
Date	199805
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : drk
State Reference	AZ
Altitude	msl bound lower : 28000 msl bound upper : 29000
Environment
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zab
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-80 Super 80
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude cruise other descent other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
ASRS Report	403716
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
ASRS Report	403715
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : declared emergency other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

ZAB 134.32. Copilot flying. Received climb clearance to cross 35 mi east of drake, at FL290, to make climb restr. As we were approaching FL290, slowed airplane to 230 KIAS. We encountered an initial low speed buffet. (Our gross weight at the time was approximately 142000 pounds.) we requested an immediate descent. ATC said unable. We declared an emergency and descended to FL280. Accelerated to cruise mach and returned back to FL290. We canceled the emergency and the remainder of flight was uneventful.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLC OF A SUPER MD80 DECLARED AN EMER AND DSNDED WHEN THEIR ACFT COULD NOT MAINTAIN A SAFE FLYING SPD AT ASSIGNED CRUISE ALT DUE TO THE ACFT GROSS WT.

Narrative: ZAB 134.32. COPLT FLYING. RECEIVED CLB CLRNC TO CROSS 35 MI E OF DRAKE, AT FL290, TO MAKE CLB RESTR. AS WE WERE APCHING FL290, SLOWED AIRPLANE TO 230 KIAS. WE ENCOUNTERED AN INITIAL LOW SPD BUFFET. (OUR GROSS WT AT THE TIME WAS APPROX 142000 LBS.) WE REQUESTED AN IMMEDIATE DSCNT. ATC SAID UNABLE. WE DECLARED AN EMER AND DSNDED TO FL280. ACCELERATED TO CRUISE MACH AND RETURNED BACK TO FL290. WE CANCELED THE EMER AND THE REMAINDER OF FLT WAS UNEVENTFUL.

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.