MD88 crew, in order to comply with a crossing altitude time, flew the aircraft into the back side of the power curve. They were required to declare an emergency in order to descend to recover speed in ZDC class a airspace.

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Attributes
ACN	592438
Time
Date	200309
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : spa.airport
State Reference	SC
Altitude	msl bound lower : 31000 msl bound upper : 35000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Weather Elements	Turbulence Thunderstorm
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc.artcc
Make Model Name	MD-88
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise : enroute altitude change
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 187 flight time total : 10000 flight time type : 2100
ASRS Report	592438
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : company policies non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : declared emergency flight crew : regained aircraft control
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Weather Aircraft
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

Climbing out of richmond, we deviated for WX en route to joinn. Due to WX in the area, we requested a climb from FL310 to FL350. Due to traffic, center needed us level at FL350 within 3 mins. We expedited the climb and leveled at FL350 at approximately 230 KIAS, slightly slow. Shortly thereafter, we entered the WX with light chop and airspeed subsequently decreased to about 225 KIAS. We requested lower with ATC due to slow airspeed, but were told by center that they were unable to grant lower. We were unable to accelerate to cruise mach at FL350, therefore, declared an emergency and descended to FL310. At FL310, at normal cruise mach, we terminated the emergency. Turning engine anti-ice on as we entered the WX at FL350 may have precipitated our slowing as the EPR reduced with engine anti-ice on.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MD88 CREW, IN ORDER TO COMPLY WITH A XING ALT TIME, FLEW THE ACFT INTO THE BACK SIDE OF THE PWR CURVE. THEY WERE REQUIRED TO DECLARE AN EMER IN ORDER TO DSND TO RECOVER SPD IN ZDC CLASS A AIRSPACE.

Narrative: CLBING OUT OF RICHMOND, WE DEVIATED FOR WX ENRTE TO JOINN. DUE TO WX IN THE AREA, WE REQUESTED A CLB FROM FL310 TO FL350. DUE TO TFC, CTR NEEDED US LEVEL AT FL350 WITHIN 3 MINS. WE EXPEDITED THE CLB AND LEVELED AT FL350 AT APPROX 230 KIAS, SLIGHTLY SLOW. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, WE ENTERED THE WX WITH LIGHT CHOP AND AIRSPD SUBSEQUENTLY DECREASED TO ABOUT 225 KIAS. WE REQUESTED LOWER WITH ATC DUE TO SLOW AIRSPD, BUT WERE TOLD BY CTR THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO GRANT LOWER. WE WERE UNABLE TO ACCELERATE TO CRUISE MACH AT FL350, THEREFORE, DECLARED AN EMER AND DSNDED TO FL310. AT FL310, AT NORMAL CRUISE MACH, WE TERMINATED THE EMER. TURNING ENG ANTI-ICE ON AS WE ENTERED THE WX AT FL350 MAY HAVE PRECIPITATED OUR SLOWING AS THE EPR REDUCED WITH ENG ANTI-ICE ON.

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.