Flight crew of a super MD80 were unable to make STAR crossing altitude due to late descent by ATC.

Attributes
ACN	448420
Time
Date	199909
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	intersection : gregs
State Reference	TX
Altitude	msl bound lower : 9000 msl bound upper : 11000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zfw.artcc
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 : intermediate altitude descent : vacating altitude
Route In Use	arrival star : ns
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
ASRS Report	448420
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : undershoot altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : insufficient time none taken : unable other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Location: 20 mi north of gregs. WX all around. Controller very busy. Didn't let us out of FL190 until 20 mi north of gregs and told us to cross gregs at 9000 ft and 250. We did our best but overshot by 1-2 mi. We couldn't get a word in to the controller-- he was too busy.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLC OF A SUPER MD80 WERE UNABLE TO MAKE STAR XING ALT DUE TO LATE DSCNT BY ATC.

Narrative: LOCATION: 20 MI N OF GREGS. WX ALL AROUND. CTLR VERY BUSY. DIDN'T LET US OUT OF FL190 UNTIL 20 MI N OF GREGS AND TOLD US TO CROSS GREGS AT 9000 FT AND 250. WE DID OUR BEST BUT OVERSHOT BY 1-2 MI. WE COULDN'T GET A WORD IN TO THE CTLR-- HE WAS TOO BUSY.

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.