ATC gave clearance that made a previous altitude crossing restriction impossible to make.

Attributes
ACN	82792
Time
Date	198802
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : aqn
State Reference	TX
Altitude	msl bound lower : 11000 msl bound upper : 15000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : dfw
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other descent other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 250 flight time total : 10000 flight time type : 7000
ASRS Report	82792
Person 2
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other
Situations
ATC Facility	procedure or policy : unspecified

Narrative:

Planned descent for normal crossing restriction of 11000' and 250 KTS at flato. Issued 250 KTS now during descent. 250 KTS now made crossing restriction almost impossible. Busy frequency to get in a word that we wouldn't make the altitude. Finally got in a word and ATC on 125.8, responded 'roger.' did 'roger' mean it was ok or what? This is a very typical scenario and of course the frequency is so congested with no time for even replies from the aircraft that the controller is working.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ATC GAVE CLRNC THAT MADE A PREVIOUS ALT CROSSING RESTRICTION IMPOSSIBLE TO MAKE.

Narrative: PLANNED DSCNT FOR NORMAL XING RESTRICTION OF 11000' AND 250 KTS AT FLATO. ISSUED 250 KTS NOW DURING DSCNT. 250 KTS NOW MADE XING RESTRICTION ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE. BUSY FREQ TO GET IN A WORD THAT WE WOULDN'T MAKE THE ALT. FINALLY GOT IN A WORD AND ATC ON 125.8, RESPONDED 'ROGER.' DID 'ROGER' MEAN IT WAS OK OR WHAT? THIS IS A VERY TYPICAL SCENARIO AND OF COURSE THE FREQ IS SO CONGESTED WITH NO TIME FOR EVEN REPLIES FROM THE ACFT THAT THE CTLR IS WORKING.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 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.