Narrative:

Approaching hli VOR from the southeast on the holly arrival into memphis. Previously ZME had to clear us to descend; pilot's discretion; to FL240. Leaving top-of-descent with the FMS profile pre-programmed to cross meggy intersection at 10000 ft; as expected on the holly arrival chart; the center controller assigns us a speed restr of 280 KIAS. Approaching FL240 we are given a frequency change and the newly assigned controller clears us to cross meggy at 10000 ft. Approximately 25 NM from meggy ATC is notified we cannot meet the crossing restr because of our reduced speed. The controller responds by amending the clearance to 'descend to 17000 ft; normal speed.' a short time later the controller vectors us off the arrival route by assigning a heading of 240 degrees. By now; due to 'pushing the nose over;' we are back on profile and can comply with the crossing restr but prior to rolling out on the newly assigned heading he states; 'cross 10 south of holly at 10000.' (thinking he now wants us to proceed direct to the VOR we reprogram the FMS navigation to go direct hli VOR.) shortly thereafter same controller asks if we're heading 240? I reply; 'no; I thought you cleared us to go direct holly -- how can I cross 10 out of holly if I'm not going to it?' at which time the supervising controller cuts in and informs us a pilot deviation report is being filed and to contact them on the ground.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MD10 FLT CREW DOES NOT MEET XING RESTR.

Narrative: APCHING HLI VOR FROM THE SE ON THE HOLLY ARR INTO MEMPHIS. PREVIOUSLY ZME HAD TO CLR US TO DSND; PLT'S DISCRETION; TO FL240. LEAVING TOP-OF-DSCNT WITH THE FMS PROFILE PRE-PROGRAMMED TO CROSS MEGGY INTXN AT 10000 FT; AS EXPECTED ON THE HOLLY ARR CHART; THE CTR CTLR ASSIGNS US A SPD RESTR OF 280 KIAS. APCHING FL240 WE ARE GIVEN A FREQ CHANGE AND THE NEWLY ASSIGNED CTLR CLRS US TO CROSS MEGGY AT 10000 FT. APPROX 25 NM FROM MEGGY ATC IS NOTIFIED WE CANNOT MEET THE XING RESTR BECAUSE OF OUR REDUCED SPD. THE CTLR RESPONDS BY AMENDING THE CLRNC TO 'DSND TO 17000 FT; NORMAL SPD.' A SHORT TIME LATER THE CTLR VECTORS US OFF THE ARR RTE BY ASSIGNING A HDG OF 240 DEGS. BY NOW; DUE TO 'PUSHING THE NOSE OVER;' WE ARE BACK ON PROFILE AND CAN COMPLY WITH THE XING RESTR BUT PRIOR TO ROLLING OUT ON THE NEWLY ASSIGNED HDG HE STATES; 'CROSS 10 S OF HOLLY AT 10000.' (THINKING HE NOW WANTS US TO PROCEED DIRECT TO THE VOR WE REPROGRAM THE FMS NAV TO GO DIRECT HLI VOR.) SHORTLY THEREAFTER SAME CTLR ASKS IF WE'RE HDG 240? I REPLY; 'NO; I THOUGHT YOU CLRED US TO GO DIRECT HOLLY -- HOW CAN I CROSS 10 OUT OF HOLLY IF I'M NOT GOING TO IT?' AT WHICH TIME THE SUPERVISING CTLR CUTS IN AND INFORMS US A PLTDEV RPT IS BEING FILED AND TO CONTACT THEM ON THE GND.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.