Narrative:

On approach to runway 18R mem. Approach control was very busy with a lot of traffic and thunderstorms in the area. We were also busy having loaded our third change of approachs into the FMS. We were on a vector and directed to switch to final controller. On contact, final controller gave us what we thought was our position and contact and then told us to turn to a westerly heading for vectors for runway 18R. I read back exactly just the heading. We turned to this heading. Controller came back very angry at us for turning early. Apparently, he had cleared us to start our turn at 12 DME, instead of immediately, when we were at 14 DME. Surprisingly, the aircraft behind us did exactly the same thing, and the aircraft behind him asked for clarification. Controller was very upset at us all and told us all to listen up. Unfortunately, I feel that the controller was somewhat overwhelmed and consequently he was speaking extremely fast and was difficult to understand. Additionally, we are so used to getting just a vector from approach, that a few of us missed the DME requirement. The controller stopped giving the DME requirement after the 3 mix-ups. Supplemental information from acn 619460: we had 3 runway changes. On the last change, this is what we heard: '...you're 12 mi northeast, turn right 270 degrees.' 2 mins later, he said, 'hey air carrier X, you turned too early.' so what I guess he said was, 'at 12 mi, turn 270 degrees.' we originally read back 'roger, turning right 270 degrees.' he said nothing. As it turns out, his articulation of what he wanted us to do was not what he was saying or appeared to be saying.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A300 FLT CREW LNDG MEM IS QUESTIONED BY ATC FOR NOT COMPLYING WITH APCH CLRNC.

Narrative: ON APCH TO RWY 18R MEM. APCH CTL WAS VERY BUSY WITH A LOT OF TFC AND TSTMS IN THE AREA. WE WERE ALSO BUSY HAVING LOADED OUR THIRD CHANGE OF APCHS INTO THE FMS. WE WERE ON A VECTOR AND DIRECTED TO SWITCH TO FINAL CTLR. ON CONTACT, FINAL CTLR GAVE US WHAT WE THOUGHT WAS OUR POS AND CONTACT AND THEN TOLD US TO TURN TO A WESTERLY HDG FOR VECTORS FOR RWY 18R. I READ BACK EXACTLY JUST THE HDG. WE TURNED TO THIS HDG. CTLR CAME BACK VERY ANGRY AT US FOR TURNING EARLY. APPARENTLY, HE HAD CLRED US TO START OUR TURN AT 12 DME, INSTEAD OF IMMEDIATELY, WHEN WE WERE AT 14 DME. SURPRISINGLY, THE ACFT BEHIND US DID EXACTLY THE SAME THING, AND THE ACFT BEHIND HIM ASKED FOR CLARIFICATION. CTLR WAS VERY UPSET AT US ALL AND TOLD US ALL TO LISTEN UP. UNFORTUNATELY, I FEEL THAT THE CTLR WAS SOMEWHAT OVERWHELMED AND CONSEQUENTLY HE WAS SPEAKING EXTREMELY FAST AND WAS DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND. ADDITIONALLY, WE ARE SO USED TO GETTING JUST A VECTOR FROM APCH, THAT A FEW OF US MISSED THE DME REQUIREMENT. THE CTLR STOPPED GIVING THE DME REQUIREMENT AFTER THE 3 MIX-UPS. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 619460: WE HAD 3 RWY CHANGES. ON THE LAST CHANGE, THIS IS WHAT WE HEARD: '...YOU'RE 12 MI NE, TURN R 270 DEGS.' 2 MINS LATER, HE SAID, 'HEY ACR X, YOU TURNED TOO EARLY.' SO WHAT I GUESS HE SAID WAS, 'AT 12 MI, TURN 270 DEGS.' WE ORIGINALLY READ BACK 'ROGER, TURNING R 270 DEGS.' HE SAID NOTHING. AS IT TURNS OUT, HIS ARTICULATION OF WHAT HE WANTED US TO DO WAS NOT WHAT HE WAS SAYING OR APPEARED TO BE SAYING.

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.