Narrative:

While at FL240, approximately 58 NM west of vhr, proceeding directly to vhp with RNAV en route to ind. Indianapolis center gave us a clearance to cross 35 west of vhp at and maintain 11000. We were 23 NM from crossing restriction with 13000 ft to lose. We had a slight tailwind. We immediately initiated a maximum rate descent and I knew that the clearance given to us exceeded the performance capability of the aircraft (idle thrust, speed brakes, barber pole descent). Shortly after starting the descent, we advised indianapolis center 2 times that we would be unable to cross 35 west of vhp at 11000. On both occasions the controller stated 'just do the best you can'. Frequency was moderately busy and I didn't have opportunity to explain to controller that his response was unsatisfactory and did not constitute a new clearance for us that we could comply with.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR FLC UNABLE TO COMPLY WITH ATC DSCNT AND XING RESTRICTION. ADVISED CTLR. CTLR FAILS TO ISSUE NEW CLRNC.

Narrative: WHILE AT FL240, APPROX 58 NM W OF VHR, PROCEEDING DIRECTLY TO VHP WITH RNAV ENRTE TO IND. INDIANAPOLIS CENTER GAVE US A CLRNC TO CROSS 35 W OF VHP AT AND MAINTAIN 11000. WE WERE 23 NM FROM XING RESTRICTION WITH 13000 FT TO LOSE. WE HAD A SLIGHT TAILWIND. WE IMMEDIATELY INITIATED A MAX RATE DSCNT AND I KNEW THAT THE CLRNC GIVEN TO US EXCEEDED THE PERFORMANCE CAPABILITY OF THE ACFT (IDLE THRUST, SPD BRAKES, BARBER POLE DSCNT). SHORTLY AFTER STARTING THE DSCNT, WE ADVISED INDIANAPOLIS CENTER 2 TIMES THAT WE WOULD BE UNABLE TO CROSS 35 W OF VHP AT 11000. ON BOTH OCCASIONS THE CTLR STATED 'JUST DO THE BEST YOU CAN'. FREQ WAS MODERATELY BUSY AND I DIDN'T HAVE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLAIN TO CTLR THAT HIS RESPONSE WAS UNSATISFACTORY AND DID NOT CONSTITUTE A NEW CLRNC FOR US THAT WE COULD COMPLY WITH.

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.