B727 crew exceeded 250 KTS below 10000 ft in mem class B airspace.

Attributes
ACN	502320
Time
Date	200102
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : mem.airport
State Reference	TN
Altitude	msl single value : 10000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : mem.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B727 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : vacating altitude
Route In Use	arrival : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : second officer
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 30 flight time total : 4200 flight time type : 250
ASRS Report	502320
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure non adherence : company policies other anomaly other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance none taken : detected after the fact
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Weather Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

We were on mem approach, level at 10000 ft and 290 KIAS. They gave us lower. I saw the captain retard the thrust levers and told the autoplt to descend. My attention shifted to the so's panel. I was xfeeding fuel, and it was almost balanced, so I watched it and secured it when it balanced. I looked up front, checked the traffic outside, then scanned the instrument panel. I was shocked to see we were still doing 290 KIAS. About the time I opened my mouth to say 'check your airspeed,' the approach controller told us to slow to 170 KTS, vectored us onto final and gave us approach clearance. The captain hit the speed brakes and thrust to idle, and lined up. Subsequently, approach had us slow to final approach speed. Rest of flight uneventful. Factors: this was my second leg with this crew. Captain and first officer had been together all month. This was also my second leg after returning from vacation. My focus was in the back, making sure I didn't screw up. Flying at night, when you're not at your peak alertness, takes getting used to.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B727 CREW EXCEEDED 250 KTS BELOW 10000 FT IN MEM CLASS B AIRSPACE.

Narrative: WE WERE ON MEM APCH, LEVEL AT 10000 FT AND 290 KIAS. THEY GAVE US LOWER. I SAW THE CAPT RETARD THE THRUST LEVERS AND TOLD THE AUTOPLT TO DSND. MY ATTN SHIFTED TO THE SO'S PANEL. I WAS XFEEDING FUEL, AND IT WAS ALMOST BALANCED, SO I WATCHED IT AND SECURED IT WHEN IT BALANCED. I LOOKED UP FRONT, CHKED THE TFC OUTSIDE, THEN SCANNED THE INST PANEL. I WAS SHOCKED TO SEE WE WERE STILL DOING 290 KIAS. ABOUT THE TIME I OPENED MY MOUTH TO SAY 'CHK YOUR AIRSPD,' THE APCH CTLR TOLD US TO SLOW TO 170 KTS, VECTORED US ONTO FINAL AND GAVE US APCH CLRNC. THE CAPT HIT THE SPD BRAKES AND THRUST TO IDLE, AND LINED UP. SUBSEQUENTLY, APCH HAD US SLOW TO FINAL APCH SPD. REST OF FLT UNEVENTFUL. FACTORS: THIS WAS MY SECOND LEG WITH THIS CREW. CAPT AND FO HAD BEEN TOGETHER ALL MONTH. THIS WAS ALSO MY SECOND LEG AFTER RETURNING FROM VACATION. MY FOCUS WAS IN THE BACK, MAKING SURE I DIDN'T SCREW UP. FLYING AT NIGHT, WHEN YOU'RE NOT AT YOUR PEAK ALERTNESS, TAKES GETTING USED TO.

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.