B757 captain accepted an impossible descent clearance with a speed reduction.

Attributes
ACN	467535
Time
Date	200003
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	intersection : tabir
State Reference	FL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 13000 msl bound upper : 15000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zjx.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B757-200
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : vacating altitude
Route In Use	arrival star : darbe 1
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : cfi pilot : commercial pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 8000 flight time type : 800
ASRS Report	467535
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met non adherence : clearance non adherence : published procedure non adherence : company policies other anomaly
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Company
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was the PF. During descent into tpa on the darbs 1 arrival, and after getting cleared and crossing leggt intersection at FL270, I expected a usual clearance to cross tabir intersection at 13000 ft and darbs at 10000 ft. As we were now at FL250 and inside the top of descent point for a comfortable 3:1 ratio descent, I asked the captain to query ZJX. He declined. Then ZJX gave us the clearance to slow to 270 KIAS (from 330 KTS) and cross tabir at 13000 ft, 22 mi from the fix! We would have required 36 NM (3:1) and another 6 NM to slow to 270 KTS. The captain maintained that since the controller had given the clearance late, he needn't inform the controller that we needed an amended clearance, or relief from the crossing restr. As a loss of separation wasn't an issue (no other traffic), I did my best (with full speed brakes extended) to near tabir at as close to the clearance as possible. I crossed the fix at 15000 ft (2000 ft high) and at 330 KIAS (60 KTS fast). The ZJX controller switched us to tpa approach control, and nothing else was said.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B757 CAPT ACCEPTED AN IMPOSSIBLE DSCNT CLRNC WITH A SPD REDUCTION.

Narrative: I WAS THE PF. DURING DSCNT INTO TPA ON THE DARBS 1 ARR, AND AFTER GETTING CLRED AND XING LEGGT INTXN AT FL270, I EXPECTED A USUAL CLRNC TO CROSS TABIR INTXN AT 13000 FT AND DARBS AT 10000 FT. AS WE WERE NOW AT FL250 AND INSIDE THE TOP OF DSCNT POINT FOR A COMFORTABLE 3:1 RATIO DSCNT, I ASKED THE CAPT TO QUERY ZJX. HE DECLINED. THEN ZJX GAVE US THE CLRNC TO SLOW TO 270 KIAS (FROM 330 KTS) AND CROSS TABIR AT 13000 FT, 22 MI FROM THE FIX! WE WOULD HAVE REQUIRED 36 NM (3:1) AND ANOTHER 6 NM TO SLOW TO 270 KTS. THE CAPT MAINTAINED THAT SINCE THE CTLR HAD GIVEN THE CLRNC LATE, HE NEEDN'T INFORM THE CTLR THAT WE NEEDED AN AMENDED CLRNC, OR RELIEF FROM THE XING RESTR. AS A LOSS OF SEPARATION WASN'T AN ISSUE (NO OTHER TFC), I DID MY BEST (WITH FULL SPD BRAKES EXTENDED) TO NEAR TABIR AT AS CLOSE TO THE CLRNC AS POSSIBLE. I CROSSED THE FIX AT 15000 FT (2000 FT HIGH) AND AT 330 KIAS (60 KTS FAST). THE ZJX CTLR SWITCHED US TO TPA APCH CTL, AND NOTHING ELSE WAS SAID.

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.