A B727 crew, on final to atl, slowed to final approach speed prior to the OM, to the chagrin of ATC.

Attributes
ACN	560093
Time
Date	200209
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : atl.airport
State Reference	GA
Altitude	msl single value : 3600
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : a80.tracon tower : atl.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B727 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	ils localizer & glide slope : 26r
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : instrument precision arrival : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	tracon : a80.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B777 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 45 flight time total : 10000 flight time type : 1100
ASRS Report	560093
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : wake turbulence inflight encounter : weather non adherence : clearance other anomaly
Independent Detector	atc equipment other atc equipment : final monitor ctl position aircraft equipment : tcas other controllera other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : took precautionary avoidance action
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Airport ATC Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

On arrival into atlanta, we were advised that we would be following a B777 to landing. We were told to intercept localizer at 3500 ft. We were then cleared for the approach, WX IMC. The B777 appeared on TCASII 6-7 mi ahead. The clearance also said maintain speed till final and switch to tower frequency. On final (the B777 appeared on TCASII at 4 NM). I slowed to approach speed with gear and flaps down (approximately 148 KTS). The final monitor came on the radio and asked our airspeed. We were instructed to increase speed to 160 KTS till the marker. Tower was handling takeoffs, lndgs and runway xings. After landing, we were asked to call approach control. Approach stated that we landed 7 mi behind the heavy and a small aircraft had to slow behind us because of a close interval. I told the supervisor that I observed the heavy at 4 NM and adjusted to stay out of his turbulence. He stated that I landed 7 NM behind, which is probably correct since I made the speed adjustment. I was then told that their radar was more accurate than TCASII and I should not use it.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B727 CREW, ON FINAL TO ATL, SLOWED TO FINAL APCH SPD PRIOR TO THE OM, TO THE CHAGRIN OF ATC.

Narrative: ON ARR INTO ATLANTA, WE WERE ADVISED THAT WE WOULD BE FOLLOWING A B777 TO LNDG. WE WERE TOLD TO INTERCEPT LOC AT 3500 FT. WE WERE THEN CLRED FOR THE APCH, WX IMC. THE B777 APPEARED ON TCASII 6-7 MI AHEAD. THE CLRNC ALSO SAID MAINTAIN SPD TILL FINAL AND SWITCH TO TWR FREQ. ON FINAL (THE B777 APPEARED ON TCASII AT 4 NM). I SLOWED TO APCH SPD WITH GEAR AND FLAPS DOWN (APPROX 148 KTS). THE FINAL MONITOR CAME ON THE RADIO AND ASKED OUR AIRSPD. WE WERE INSTRUCTED TO INCREASE SPD TO 160 KTS TILL THE MARKER. TWR WAS HANDLING TKOFS, LNDGS AND RWY XINGS. AFTER LNDG, WE WERE ASKED TO CALL APCH CTL. APCH STATED THAT WE LANDED 7 MI BEHIND THE HVY AND A SMALL ACFT HAD TO SLOW BEHIND US BECAUSE OF A CLOSE INTERVAL. I TOLD THE SUPVR THAT I OBSERVED THE HVY AT 4 NM AND ADJUSTED TO STAY OUT OF HIS TURB. HE STATED THAT I LANDED 7 NM BEHIND, WHICH IS PROBABLY CORRECT SINCE I MADE THE SPD ADJUSTMENT. I WAS THEN TOLD THAT THEIR RADAR WAS MORE ACCURATE THAN TCASII AND I SHOULD NOT USE IT.

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.