Narrative:

The aircraft was descending to FL190 from FL240 while on the la grange 6 arrival. Center requested that we level off at FL210 for crossing traffic at FL200. While waiting for the clearance to continue descent, we discussed that if we were instructed to cross 'dirde' (29 DME) at 14000', we would have difficulty because of our relative close proximity to the fix. At approximately 40 DME we were told by center to continue descent to cross 'dirde' at 14000' and were given an immediate frequency change to approach control. We initiated an expeditious descent and switched frequencys. As soon as I checked in, I informed the approach controller that due to our being held high for traffic, we would be close on making the restriction. The controller responded that he would 'tell center.' not certain that he understood my statement, I repeated myself. Again he stated that he would 'tell center.' we crossed over 'dirde' at approximately 14400' MSL. No conflicts were noted and no comments made by the approach controller. The descent clearance as issued required that we lose 7000' and 11 mi. ATC needs to be more sensitive to jet aircraft capabilities in descent. In retrospect, rather than attempting to comply, I should have immediately stated that I would not be able to make the restriction rather than trying to make it. By doing that, I could have avoided discomfort for the passenger and crew, as well as avoided a possible conflict. Additionally, the controller might have realized that a turn or some other clearance may have been more appropriate for the situation.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ALT DEVIATION. UNDERSHOOT IN DESCENT. ALT CROSSING RESTRICTION MISSED.

Narrative: THE ACFT WAS DSNDING TO FL190 FROM FL240 WHILE ON THE LA GRANGE 6 ARR. CENTER REQUESTED THAT WE LEVEL OFF AT FL210 FOR XING TFC AT FL200. WHILE WAITING FOR THE CLRNC TO CONTINUE DSNT, WE DISCUSSED THAT IF WE WERE INSTRUCTED TO CROSS 'DIRDE' (29 DME) AT 14000', WE WOULD HAVE DIFFICULTY BECAUSE OF OUR RELATIVE CLOSE PROX TO THE FIX. AT APPROX 40 DME WE WERE TOLD BY CENTER TO CONTINUE DSNT TO CROSS 'DIRDE' AT 14000' AND WERE GIVEN AN IMMEDIATE FREQ CHANGE TO APCH CTL. WE INITIATED AN EXPEDITIOUS DSNT AND SWITCHED FREQS. AS SOON AS I CHKED IN, I INFORMED THE APCH CTLR THAT DUE TO OUR BEING HELD HIGH FOR TFC, WE WOULD BE CLOSE ON MAKING THE RESTRICTION. THE CTLR RESPONDED THAT HE WOULD 'TELL CENTER.' NOT CERTAIN THAT HE UNDERSTOOD MY STATEMENT, I REPEATED MYSELF. AGAIN HE STATED THAT HE WOULD 'TELL CENTER.' WE CROSSED OVER 'DIRDE' AT APPROX 14400' MSL. NO CONFLICTS WERE NOTED AND NO COMMENTS MADE BY THE APCH CTLR. THE DSNT CLRNC AS ISSUED REQUIRED THAT WE LOSE 7000' AND 11 MI. ATC NEEDS TO BE MORE SENSITIVE TO JET ACFT CAPABILITIES IN DSNT. IN RETROSPECT, RATHER THAN ATTEMPTING TO COMPLY, I SHOULD HAVE IMMEDIATELY STATED THAT I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO MAKE THE RESTRICTION RATHER THAN TRYING TO MAKE IT. BY DOING THAT, I COULD HAVE AVOIDED DISCOMFORT FOR THE PAX AND CREW, AS WELL AS AVOIDED A POSSIBLE CONFLICT. ADDITIONALLY, THE CTLR MIGHT HAVE REALIZED THAT A TURN OR SOME OTHER CLRNC MAY HAVE BEEN MORE APPROPRIATE FOR THE SITUATION.

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.