Narrative:

Flying the bunts 6 arrival to phl, descending to 10000 ft initially as cleared by ZNY. Passing approximately 14000 ft we were cleared to cross bunts intersection at 8000 ft. We were descending in vertical speed mode because of the multiple step-downs and distance to bunts intersection (approximately 25 mi to go). We completed the approach checklist at 11000 ft and as we approached 10000 ft, ZNY asked us about a good location around bunts intersection to hold because of thunderstorms in the phl area. At this time both pilots were distracted by this question by looking at the WX in the area and figuring out a good holding location. At approximately 8600 ft I looked at the altitude and saw we were at 300 KTS still and slowed to 250 KTS at this time. It turns out ATC just wanted a location for aircraft behind us, not for us. Contributing factors were: ATC asking about holding at a point in time when another task was required to be completed. WX in the area. VNAV mode at this time, VNAV would have slowed the aircraft at 10000 ft, while vertical speed mode will not. Corrective action: most important is to always fly the airplane first. By being distracted by a question from ATC, we missed a critical slow down. We should have said standby, complete task of flying and then answer questions. Also autoplt mode was a factor. By using vertical speed vice VNAV, we had to manually slow down. We should have switched modes to VNAV when asked by ATC about holding.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B737-800 FLT CREW ALLOWS THEIR ACFT TO MAINTAIN SPD OF 300 KTS DURING ITS DSCNT TO 8600 FT 20 NM NW OF MXE, PA.

Narrative: FLYING THE BUNTS 6 ARR TO PHL, DSNDING TO 10000 FT INITIALLY AS CLRED BY ZNY. PASSING APPROX 14000 FT WE WERE CLRED TO CROSS BUNTS INTXN AT 8000 FT. WE WERE DSNDING IN VERT SPD MODE BECAUSE OF THE MULTIPLE STEP-DOWNS AND DISTANCE TO BUNTS INTXN (APPROX 25 MI TO GO). WE COMPLETED THE APCH CHKLIST AT 11000 FT AND AS WE APCHED 10000 FT, ZNY ASKED US ABOUT A GOOD LOCATION AROUND BUNTS INTXN TO HOLD BECAUSE OF TSTMS IN THE PHL AREA. AT THIS TIME BOTH PLTS WERE DISTRACTED BY THIS QUESTION BY LOOKING AT THE WX IN THE AREA AND FIGURING OUT A GOOD HOLDING LOCATION. AT APPROX 8600 FT I LOOKED AT THE ALT AND SAW WE WERE AT 300 KTS STILL AND SLOWED TO 250 KTS AT THIS TIME. IT TURNS OUT ATC JUST WANTED A LOCATION FOR ACFT BEHIND US, NOT FOR US. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE: ATC ASKING ABOUT HOLDING AT A POINT IN TIME WHEN ANOTHER TASK WAS REQUIRED TO BE COMPLETED. WX IN THE AREA. VNAV MODE AT THIS TIME, VNAV WOULD HAVE SLOWED THE ACFT AT 10000 FT, WHILE VERT SPD MODE WILL NOT. CORRECTIVE ACTION: MOST IMPORTANT IS TO ALWAYS FLY THE AIRPLANE FIRST. BY BEING DISTRACTED BY A QUESTION FROM ATC, WE MISSED A CRITICAL SLOW DOWN. WE SHOULD HAVE SAID STANDBY, COMPLETE TASK OF FLYING AND THEN ANSWER QUESTIONS. ALSO AUTOPLT MODE WAS A FACTOR. BY USING VERT SPD VICE VNAV, WE HAD TO MANUALLY SLOW DOWN. WE SHOULD HAVE SWITCHED MODES TO VNAV WHEN ASKED BY ATC ABOUT HOLDING.

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.