B767 inbound emergency with flap failure was denied use of requested longest runway by ATC.

Attributes
ACN	760815
Time
Date	200703
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Altitude	msl single value : 6000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : zzz.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B767-400 and 400 ER
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 56 flight time total : 10905 flight time type : 153
ASRS Report	760815
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance

Narrative:

During the approach phase to ZZZ we were unable to lower flaps below 1 degree; and received a 'trailing edge flap disagree' message. My copilot and I ran the emergency checklist; but were unable to lower the flaps further. At that point we declared an emergency with approach control. We requested the longest runway at ZZZ but were informed it was 'not available in the current confign.' we then requested runway Y and were cleared for the approach and landing. I terminated the emergency as we taxied to the gate. I was well aware of the higher approach speed; as well as the tendency of the aircraft to float with a minimal flap setting. I want to emphasize runway X is 4000 ft longer than runway Y and would have afforded us an important extra margin of safety during our emergency landing.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B767 INBOUND EMER WITH FLAP FAILURE WAS DENIED USE OF REQUESTED LONGEST RWY BY ATC.

Narrative: DURING THE APCH PHASE TO ZZZ WE WERE UNABLE TO LOWER FLAPS BELOW 1 DEG; AND RECEIVED A 'TRAILING EDGE FLAP DISAGREE' MESSAGE. MY COPLT AND I RAN THE EMER CHKLIST; BUT WERE UNABLE TO LOWER THE FLAPS FURTHER. AT THAT POINT WE DECLARED AN EMER WITH APCH CTL. WE REQUESTED THE LONGEST RWY AT ZZZ BUT WERE INFORMED IT WAS 'NOT AVAILABLE IN THE CURRENT CONFIGN.' WE THEN REQUESTED RWY Y AND WERE CLRED FOR THE APCH AND LNDG. I TERMINATED THE EMER AS WE TAXIED TO THE GATE. I WAS WELL AWARE OF THE HIGHER APCH SPD; AS WELL AS THE TENDENCY OF THE ACFT TO FLOAT WITH A MINIMAL FLAP SETTING. I WANT TO EMPHASIZE RWY X IS 4000 FT LONGER THAN RWY Y AND WOULD HAVE AFFORDED US AN IMPORTANT EXTRA MARGIN OF SAFETY DURING OUR EMER LNDG.

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.