Narrative:

We were being vectored for a visual approach to runway 18L at mem. We were slightly high due to the previous controller not allowing us to descend. Approximately 6000 ft MSL 7-8 mi out from the runway, the controller cleared us for the visual and we felt we could make a stabilized approach. I asked for slats extended and had full speed brakes out. About 6 mi out and 4000 ft the controller rescinded our clearance saying 'turn left 090 degrees, you're too close to make it.' the captain replied 'we could make it if he would let us continue.' the controller said, 'no, it wouldn't be a stabilized approach.' the captain said he should be the one to determine that. The controller then said 'I'm concerned about safety' implying that we were not. I overrode the autoplt and began to turn and level off. While changing our confign back to put speed brakes up, we descended to about 2700 ft before I could get back to the 3000 ft assigned. Our company has a policy about being stabilized on approach by 1000 ft in IMC and 500 ft visually. We could have easily done this. I feel our last min vector/leveloff and forced confign change was much more unsafe and the go around decision should be best left to the air crew not the controller.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AFTER APCH CTLR CLRED FLC OF A DC10 FOR APCH FROM A RELATIVELY HIGH ALT, AND CLOSE IN, AND THEN AFTER THE FLC EXTENDED SPD BRAKES AND FLAPS ACCORDINGLY, THE CTLR CHANGED HIS MIND AND VECTORED THE DC10 OFF THE LOC TO LOSE ALT TO ASSURE SAFETY.

Narrative: WE WERE BEING VECTORED FOR A VISUAL APCH TO RWY 18L AT MEM. WE WERE SLIGHTLY HIGH DUE TO THE PREVIOUS CTLR NOT ALLOWING US TO DSND. APPROX 6000 FT MSL 7-8 MI OUT FROM THE RWY, THE CTLR CLRED US FOR THE VISUAL AND WE FELT WE COULD MAKE A STABILIZED APCH. I ASKED FOR SLATS EXTENDED AND HAD FULL SPD BRAKES OUT. ABOUT 6 MI OUT AND 4000 FT THE CTLR RESCINDED OUR CLRNC SAYING 'TURN L 090 DEGS, YOU'RE TOO CLOSE TO MAKE IT.' THE CAPT REPLIED 'WE COULD MAKE IT IF HE WOULD LET US CONTINUE.' THE CTLR SAID, 'NO, IT WOULDN'T BE A STABILIZED APCH.' THE CAPT SAID HE SHOULD BE THE ONE TO DETERMINE THAT. THE CTLR THEN SAID 'I'M CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY' IMPLYING THAT WE WERE NOT. I OVERRODE THE AUTOPLT AND BEGAN TO TURN AND LEVEL OFF. WHILE CHANGING OUR CONFIGN BACK TO PUT SPD BRAKES UP, WE DSNDED TO ABOUT 2700 FT BEFORE I COULD GET BACK TO THE 3000 FT ASSIGNED. OUR COMPANY HAS A POLICY ABOUT BEING STABILIZED ON APCH BY 1000 FT IN IMC AND 500 FT VISUALLY. WE COULD HAVE EASILY DONE THIS. I FEEL OUR LAST MIN VECTOR/LEVELOFF AND FORCED CONFIGN CHANGE WAS MUCH MORE UNSAFE AND THE GAR DECISION SHOULD BE BEST LEFT TO THE AIR CREW NOT THE CTLR.

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.