Medium large transport too heavy to climb to assigned altitude. Vectored away from traffic.

Attributes
ACN	237352
Time
Date	199303
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : vuz
State Reference	AL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 31000 msl bound upper : 34500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : ztl
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 4700 flight time type : 800
ASRS Report	237352
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : undershoot conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Assigned to maintain FL310. Passing through about FL30.5, center asked if we could be level at FL350 in 4 mins or less. Captain (PF) said yes. We passed through FL330 with 2 1/2 mins remaining. We were fairly heavy, so our climb performance decreased significantly. Initially, we were maintaining 1600 FPM. Passing through FL330 climb decreased to 600 FPM. At FL34.1 center asked if we would make the restriction (only 30 seconds remaining on the original 4 mins). At this point, center assigned heading of 30 degrees left. Due to our heavy weight, we could not make FL350 at all. When I informed center that we would not make FL350, he turned us an additional 60 degree left. Center also turned another aircraft 30 degree to his left. We were then cleared down to FL310 and direct on course. Looking back, I had my doubts about accepting this clearance. I (as first officer) should have been more vocal about my concerns. A classic example of bad cockpit resource management.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MLG TOO HVY TO CLB TO ASSIGNED ALT. VECTORED AWAY FROM TFC.

Narrative: ASSIGNED TO MAINTAIN FL310. PASSING THROUGH ABOUT FL30.5, CTR ASKED IF WE COULD BE LEVEL AT FL350 IN 4 MINS OR LESS. CAPT (PF) SAID YES. WE PASSED THROUGH FL330 WITH 2 1/2 MINS REMAINING. WE WERE FAIRLY HVY, SO OUR CLB PERFORMANCE DECREASED SIGNIFICANTLY. INITIALLY, WE WERE MAINTAINING 1600 FPM. PASSING THROUGH FL330 CLB DECREASED TO 600 FPM. AT FL34.1 CTR ASKED IF WE WOULD MAKE THE RESTRICTION (ONLY 30 SECONDS REMAINING ON THE ORIGINAL 4 MINS). AT THIS POINT, CTR ASSIGNED HDG OF 30 DEGS L. DUE TO OUR HVY WT, WE COULD NOT MAKE FL350 AT ALL. WHEN I INFORMED CTR THAT WE WOULD NOT MAKE FL350, HE TURNED US AN ADDITIONAL 60 DEG L. CTR ALSO TURNED ANOTHER ACFT 30 DEG TO HIS L. WE WERE THEN CLRED DOWN TO FL310 AND DIRECT ON COURSE. LOOKING BACK, I HAD MY DOUBTS ABOUT ACCEPTING THIS CLRNC. I (AS FO) SHOULD HAVE BEEN MORE VOCAL ABOUT MY CONCERNS. A CLASSIC EXAMPLE OF BAD COCKPIT RESOURCE MGMNT.

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.