A late descent clearance leads to a crossing restr not met.

Attributes
ACN	539350
Time
Date	200202
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	intersection : wenvr
State Reference	NC
Altitude	msl bound lower : 10000 msl bound upper : 11000
Environment
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zma.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Route In Use	arrival : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
ASRS Report	539350
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
ASRS Report	539349
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met non adherence : published procedure non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

En route to mia from tadpo intersection to weavr, we calculated our descent to cross weavr at 10000 ft and 250 KTS. Since the descent rate was around 2000 FPM, we requested lower right away. However, mia would not let us until a 3000 FPM rate was needed to make the crossing. Not only was this very uncomfortable to our passenger, but the restrs on our speed brake and the clean wing of the B737 make it very difficult to descend at 3000 FPM (with a tailwind) and slow down at the same time. At our descent point, we were at FL390 over marathon key -- only about 80 NM from our destination. Center did give us a delay vector, however, it was not enough delay to make the crossing. We requested relief and they told us not to worry about the speed -- just make the altitude. We tried to make the altitude, but the rapid descent over a short distance would have exceeded the aircraft red line. We ended up over weavr at around 11000 ft and 290 KTS, trying to get more relief on a congested ATC frequency. ZMA has gotten me high and fast in this area on several occasions. They need to realize that the B737 does not 'go down/slow down' very well.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A LATE DSCNT CLRNC LEADS TO A XING RESTR NOT MET.

Narrative: ENRTE TO MIA FROM TADPO INTXN TO WEAVR, WE CALCULATED OUR DSCNT TO CROSS WEAVR AT 10000 FT AND 250 KTS. SINCE THE DSCNT RATE WAS AROUND 2000 FPM, WE REQUESTED LOWER RIGHT AWAY. HOWEVER, MIA WOULD NOT LET US UNTIL A 3000 FPM RATE WAS NEEDED TO MAKE THE XING. NOT ONLY WAS THIS VERY UNCOMFORTABLE TO OUR PAX, BUT THE RESTRS ON OUR SPD BRAKE AND THE CLEAN WING OF THE B737 MAKE IT VERY DIFFICULT TO DSND AT 3000 FPM (WITH A TAILWIND) AND SLOW DOWN AT THE SAME TIME. AT OUR DSCNT POINT, WE WERE AT FL390 OVER MARATHON KEY -- ONLY ABOUT 80 NM FROM OUR DEST. CTR DID GIVE US A DELAY VECTOR, HOWEVER, IT WAS NOT ENOUGH DELAY TO MAKE THE XING. WE REQUESTED RELIEF AND THEY TOLD US NOT TO WORRY ABOUT THE SPD -- JUST MAKE THE ALT. WE TRIED TO MAKE THE ALT, BUT THE RAPID DSCNT OVER A SHORT DISTANCE WOULD HAVE EXCEEDED THE ACFT RED LINE. WE ENDED UP OVER WEAVR AT AROUND 11000 FT AND 290 KTS, TRYING TO GET MORE RELIEF ON A CONGESTED ATC FREQ. ZMA HAS GOTTEN ME HIGH AND FAST IN THIS AREA ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THEY NEED TO REALIZE THAT THE B737 DOES NOT 'GO DOWN/SLOW DOWN' VERY WELL.

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.