MD88 flight crew were unable to climb to the altitude to which requested and cleared due to lack of aircraft performance.

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Attributes
ACN	520935
Time
Date	200108
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : mem.vortac
State Reference	TN
Altitude	msl bound lower : 34300 msl bound upper : 35000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Weather Elements	Turbulence
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zme.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-88
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other other vortac
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zme.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 130 flight time total : 9000 flight time type : 4000
ASRS Report	520935
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance controller : separated traffic none taken : unable other
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Aircraft
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

We requested a climb from FL310 to FL350 to avoid thunderstorm clouds and turbulence. We were cleared to climb to FL350 and instructed to level in 4 mins or less. First officer climbed steeply to avoid the overhang clouds that we were about to fly through. Due to the steep climb, our airspeed decayed below climb speed and the aircraft stopped climbing at 34300 ft. I immediately informed center and requested a turn away. We began an off course turn and the controller descended an air carrier aircraft from FL330 to FL310. We were then granted a descent to FL310 and a turn on course. I queried the controller about a possible separation problem and he stated there was not. After landing, I called the center and spoke to the supervisor and he assured me there was no conflict. I file this report to highlight the problems of accepting climb clrncs at high altitudes and in turbulent air near the limits of aircraft performance capability. A valuable lesson was learned without sacrificing separation or safety. No TCASII alerts as well.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MD88 FLC WERE UNABLE TO CLB TO THE ALT TO WHICH REQUESTED AND CLRED DUE TO LACK OF ACFT PERFORMANCE.

Narrative: WE REQUESTED A CLB FROM FL310 TO FL350 TO AVOID TSTM CLOUDS AND TURB. WE WERE CLRED TO CLB TO FL350 AND INSTRUCTED TO LEVEL IN 4 MINS OR LESS. FO CLBED STEEPLY TO AVOID THE OVERHANG CLOUDS THAT WE WERE ABOUT TO FLY THROUGH. DUE TO THE STEEP CLB, OUR AIRSPD DECAYED BELOW CLB SPD AND THE ACFT STOPPED CLBING AT 34300 FT. I IMMEDIATELY INFORMED CTR AND REQUESTED A TURN AWAY. WE BEGAN AN OFF COURSE TURN AND THE CTLR DSNDED AN ACR ACFT FROM FL330 TO FL310. WE WERE THEN GRANTED A DSCNT TO FL310 AND A TURN ON COURSE. I QUERIED THE CTLR ABOUT A POSSIBLE SEPARATION PROB AND HE STATED THERE WAS NOT. AFTER LNDG, I CALLED THE CTR AND SPOKE TO THE SUPVR AND HE ASSURED ME THERE WAS NO CONFLICT. I FILE THIS RPT TO HIGHLIGHT THE PROBS OF ACCEPTING CLB CLRNCS AT HIGH ALTS AND IN TURBULENT AIR NEAR THE LIMITS OF ACFT PERFORMANCE CAPABILITY. A VALUABLE LESSON WAS LEARNED WITHOUT SACRIFICING SEPARATION OR SAFETY. NO TCASII ALERTS AS WELL.

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.