A descending DC9 fails to make the assigned altitude crossing restr at ujm VOR southwest of mem, tn.

Attributes
ACN	536748
Time
Date	200201
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : ujm.vor
State Reference	AR
Altitude	msl bound lower : 12000 msl bound upper : 20000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Dawn
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zme.artcc tower : dtw.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	DC-9 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other vortac
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	arrival star : vjm
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 125 flight time total : 13000 flight time type : 6000
ASRS Report	536748
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 5000 flight time type : 25
ASRS Report	536747
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met altitude deviation : undershoot inflight encounter : weather inflight encounter other non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Airspace Structure ATC Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance Weather
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

In descent to memphis on ujm arrival, ZME issued a crossing restr at ujm VOR to cross at 12000 ft. We were in the descent to FL240, passing through FL300 at 30 DME southwest of ujm, when this crossing was issued. We initiated descent to an increase of 4000 FPM descent, 2:1 for us on profile descent. We extended the speed brakes also at FL200. I informed ATC that we were unable to cross ujm at 12000 ft, tailwind component was 80 KTS. ZME abruptly vectored us off inbound radial and offered remarks as to why we couldn't cross it as everyone else was. I informed him we had done everything possible. Supplemental information from acn 536747: controller gave a crossing restr that required excessive descent rates with idle power, full speed brakes and 5000-6000 FPM rates. When we called to tell him we would miss the restr by 2000 ft, he became argumentative about why we couldn't make the restr. We informed him about winds 220 degrees, 80 KTS. Perhaps an earlier descent or use of the published altitude restrs on the arrival would have prevented the discussion.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A DSNDING DC9 FAILS TO MAKE THE ASSIGNED ALT XING RESTR AT UJM VOR SW OF MEM, TN.

Narrative: IN DSCNT TO MEMPHIS ON UJM ARR, ZME ISSUED A XING RESTR AT UJM VOR TO CROSS AT 12000 FT. WE WERE IN THE DSCNT TO FL240, PASSING THROUGH FL300 AT 30 DME SW OF UJM, WHEN THIS XING WAS ISSUED. WE INITIATED DSCNT TO AN INCREASE OF 4000 FPM DSCNT, 2:1 FOR US ON PROFILE DSCNT. WE EXTENDED THE SPD BRAKES ALSO AT FL200. I INFORMED ATC THAT WE WERE UNABLE TO CROSS UJM AT 12000 FT, TAILWIND COMPONENT WAS 80 KTS. ZME ABRUPTLY VECTORED US OFF INBOUND RADIAL AND OFFERED REMARKS AS TO WHY WE COULDN'T CROSS IT AS EVERYONE ELSE WAS. I INFORMED HIM WE HAD DONE EVERYTHING POSSIBLE. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 536747: CTLR GAVE A XING RESTR THAT REQUIRED EXCESSIVE DSCNT RATES WITH IDLE PWR, FULL SPD BRAKES AND 5000-6000 FPM RATES. WHEN WE CALLED TO TELL HIM WE WOULD MISS THE RESTR BY 2000 FT, HE BECAME ARGUMENTATIVE ABOUT WHY WE COULDN'T MAKE THE RESTR. WE INFORMED HIM ABOUT WINDS 220 DEGS, 80 KTS. PERHAPS AN EARLIER DSCNT OR USE OF THE PUBLISHED ALT RESTRS ON THE ARR WOULD HAVE PREVENTED THE DISCUSSION.

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.