MD80 crew was issued an impossible hold clearance by ZDC.

Attributes
ACN	475650
Time
Date	200006
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : ric.vortac
State Reference	VA
Altitude	msl single value : 16000
Environment
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-80 Super 80
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other vortac
Flight Phase	descent : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	arrival : holding pattern
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
ASRS Report	475650
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
ASRS Report	475968
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance FAA
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Situations
ATC Facility	procedure or policy : zdc.artcc

Narrative:

ATC irregularity. ATC issued holding clearance to hold (right turn) southwest of a DME fix on the arrival. We asked the controller to confirm the clearance, as we could not turn right, and hold southwest. Another aircraft was issued a similar clearance and made mention that the hold would be southeast. Radio traffic was slightly heavier than normal. Unable to clarify exactly what he wanted by the fix, we entered the hold, turning right to hold southeast, as this appeared to be what he intended. Numerous other off course clrncs were given -- we did our best to comply. At times the controller sounded frustrated and unsure of our position. Safe operation of the aircraft was never compromised. Supplemental information from acn 475968: numerous other off course clrncs were given, few made sense. We did our best to comply. At times the controller sounded frustrated and unsure of our position.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MD80 CREW WAS ISSUED AN IMPOSSIBLE HOLD CLRNC BY ZDC.

Narrative: ATC IRREGULARITY. ATC ISSUED HOLDING CLRNC TO HOLD (R TURN) SW OF A DME FIX ON THE ARR. WE ASKED THE CTLR TO CONFIRM THE CLRNC, AS WE COULD NOT TURN R, AND HOLD SW. ANOTHER ACFT WAS ISSUED A SIMILAR CLRNC AND MADE MENTION THAT THE HOLD WOULD BE SE. RADIO TFC WAS SLIGHTLY HEAVIER THAN NORMAL. UNABLE TO CLARIFY EXACTLY WHAT HE WANTED BY THE FIX, WE ENTERED THE HOLD, TURNING R TO HOLD SE, AS THIS APPEARED TO BE WHAT HE INTENDED. NUMEROUS OTHER OFF COURSE CLRNCS WERE GIVEN -- WE DID OUR BEST TO COMPLY. AT TIMES THE CTLR SOUNDED FRUSTRATED AND UNSURE OF OUR POS. SAFE OP OF THE ACFT WAS NEVER COMPROMISED. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 475968: NUMEROUS OTHER OFF COURSE CLRNCS WERE GIVEN, FEW MADE SENSE. WE DID OUR BEST TO COMPLY. AT TIMES THE CTLR SOUNDED FRUSTRATED AND UNSURE OF OUR POS.

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.