Narrative:

We were given a crossing restr to cross arlin intersection at 11000 ft to 250 KTS. I was descending 1000 FPM. I was planning on increasing my descent rate once we were on the proper descent profile. The controller gave us a vector off of the arrival. I assumed that we were getting vectors for the approach. I kept my descent at 1000 FPM. A while later, the controller reclred us to arlin and to cross at 11000 ft to 250 KTS. I advised my captain immediately that I would not be able to make the crossing restr. The captain advised the controller that we should not make the new restr. Supplemental information from acn 483214: another air carrier dash 8 was in front of us and we complied with all speeds assigned in an attempt to provide the necessary spacing. I could see the dash 8 below us and assumed that we were getting too close, so we slowed our descent rate. A couple of mi later, the controller turned us direct arlin and asked if we were going to make the restr. I told him we would be high. We crossed arlin at 12000-12500 ft and around 280 KTS. So what went wrong? I think the phx approach could have given us a real heads-up if he would have just told us it would be a real short vector, expect arlin at 11000 ft and 250 KTS as previously cleared. For us, we should assume nothing, always ask.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN ACR FLC IS UNABLE TO CROSS ARLIN INTXN AS ATC EXPECTED AFTER BEING RECLRED DIRECT TO ARLIN, 35 MI SW OF PHX, AZ.

Narrative: WE WERE GIVEN A XING RESTR TO CROSS ARLIN INTXN AT 11000 FT TO 250 KTS. I WAS DSNDING 1000 FPM. I WAS PLANNING ON INCREASING MY DSCNT RATE ONCE WE WERE ON THE PROPER DSCNT PROFILE. THE CTLR GAVE US A VECTOR OFF OF THE ARR. I ASSUMED THAT WE WERE GETTING VECTORS FOR THE APCH. I KEPT MY DSCNT AT 1000 FPM. A WHILE LATER, THE CTLR RECLRED US TO ARLIN AND TO CROSS AT 11000 FT TO 250 KTS. I ADVISED MY CAPT IMMEDIATELY THAT I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO MAKE THE XING RESTR. THE CAPT ADVISED THE CTLR THAT WE SHOULD NOT MAKE THE NEW RESTR. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 483214: ANOTHER ACR DASH 8 WAS IN FRONT OF US AND WE COMPLIED WITH ALL SPDS ASSIGNED IN AN ATTEMPT TO PROVIDE THE NECESSARY SPACING. I COULD SEE THE DASH 8 BELOW US AND ASSUMED THAT WE WERE GETTING TOO CLOSE, SO WE SLOWED OUR DSCNT RATE. A COUPLE OF MI LATER, THE CTLR TURNED US DIRECT ARLIN AND ASKED IF WE WERE GOING TO MAKE THE RESTR. I TOLD HIM WE WOULD BE HIGH. WE CROSSED ARLIN AT 12000-12500 FT AND AROUND 280 KTS. SO WHAT WENT WRONG? I THINK THE PHX APCH COULD HAVE GIVEN US A REAL HEADS-UP IF HE WOULD HAVE JUST TOLD US IT WOULD BE A REAL SHORT VECTOR, EXPECT ARLIN AT 11000 FT AND 250 KTS AS PREVIOUSLY CLRED. FOR US, WE SHOULD ASSUME NOTHING, ALWAYS ASK.

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.