Distracted by a late runway change while performing a rapid descent; DC8-71 exceeds 250K below 10000...

Attributes
ACN	758646
Time
Date	200710
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : msp.airport
State Reference	MN
Altitude	msl single value : 9000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : msp.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	DC-8 70
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	arrival : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 19 flight time total : 6000 flight time type : 3500
ASRS Report	758646
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far other anomaly
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

While performing a high speed descent; because of being kept above a normal descent profile; we were given an unplanned runway assignment for landing upon contact with msp approach control. This new runway was short and as pilot monitoring. I worked with the engineer to confirm the available runway length. I noticed that the first officer was in the descent mode on the autoplt; ensuring an automatic slow down to 250 KTS at 10000 ft and began to set myself up for the new approach. I felt a sharp pull-up on the aircraft and looked up to see 330 KTS at 9000 ft. The first officer had gone to speed mode while my head was down and not slowed down at 10000 ft. We subsequently slowed and landed normally. The approach was very rushed; being kept high and then having a runway change to a short runway at the last minute; making my job as pilot monitoring more difficult. If my first officer had announced his change from descent mode to speed mode on the autoplt; I would have been cued to be more observant at 10000 ft. Still as a captain I need to ensure that the 10000 ft/250 KTS requirement is met no matter the cockpit congestion and resolve to be more aware; especially because of the emphasis this particular issue has received.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: DISTRACTED BY A LATE RWY CHANGE WHILE PERFORMING A RAPID DESCENT; DC8-71 EXCEEDS 250K BELOW 10000 FEET.

Narrative: WHILE PERFORMING A HIGH SPD DSCNT; BECAUSE OF BEING KEPT ABOVE A NORMAL DSCNT PROFILE; WE WERE GIVEN AN UNPLANNED RWY ASSIGNMENT FOR LNDG UPON CONTACT WITH MSP APCH CTL. THIS NEW RWY WAS SHORT AND AS PLT MONITORING. I WORKED WITH THE ENGINEER TO CONFIRM THE AVAILABLE RWY LENGTH. I NOTICED THAT THE FO WAS IN THE DSCNT MODE ON THE AUTOPLT; ENSURING AN AUTO SLOW DOWN TO 250 KTS AT 10000 FT AND BEGAN TO SET MYSELF UP FOR THE NEW APCH. I FELT A SHARP PULL-UP ON THE ACFT AND LOOKED UP TO SEE 330 KTS AT 9000 FT. THE FO HAD GONE TO SPD MODE WHILE MY HEAD WAS DOWN AND NOT SLOWED DOWN AT 10000 FT. WE SUBSEQUENTLY SLOWED AND LANDED NORMALLY. THE APCH WAS VERY RUSHED; BEING KEPT HIGH AND THEN HAVING A RWY CHANGE TO A SHORT RWY AT THE LAST MINUTE; MAKING MY JOB AS PLT MONITORING MORE DIFFICULT. IF MY FO HAD ANNOUNCED HIS CHANGE FROM DSCNT MODE TO SPD MODE ON THE AUTOPLT; I WOULD HAVE BEEN CUED TO BE MORE OBSERVANT AT 10000 FT. STILL AS A CAPT I NEED TO ENSURE THAT THE 10000 FT/250 KTS REQUIREMENT IS MET NO MATTER THE COCKPIT CONGESTION AND RESOLVE TO BE MORE AWARE; ESPECIALLY BECAUSE OF THE EMPHASIS THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE HAS RECEIVED.

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.

Distracted by a late runway change while performing a rapid descent; DC8-71 exceeds 250K below 10000 feet.