B737 landing den is challenged by ATC for slowing at 13000 ft.

Attributes
ACN	609458
Time
Date	200402
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : den.airport
State Reference	CO
Altitude	msl bound lower : 11000 msl bound upper : 13000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdv.artcc tracon : d01.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-300
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	arrival : profile descent
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 210 flight time total : 12000 flight time type : 8000
ASRS Report	609458
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 5500 flight time type : 2800
ASRS Report	609460
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance other anomaly
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

We were inbound at 13000 ft at 280 KTS. No mention to maintain speed was given by controller. At 15 NM from den, approach control cleared us to 11000 ft. I started to slow to 250 KTS and descend. Controller asked our speed and my first officer replied we were slowing to 250 KTS. Controller became upset that he had not cleared us to slow below 280 KTS. I was slowing per normal profile absent ATC instructions to maintain current speed. Last speed given was to cross quail at 280 KTS by center.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737 LNDG DEN IS CHALLENGED BY ATC FOR SLOWING AT 13000 FT.

Narrative: WE WERE INBOUND AT 13000 FT AT 280 KTS. NO MENTION TO MAINTAIN SPD WAS GIVEN BY CTLR. AT 15 NM FROM DEN, APCH CTL CLRED US TO 11000 FT. I STARTED TO SLOW TO 250 KTS AND DSND. CTLR ASKED OUR SPD AND MY FO REPLIED WE WERE SLOWING TO 250 KTS. CTLR BECAME UPSET THAT HE HAD NOT CLRED US TO SLOW BELOW 280 KTS. I WAS SLOWING PER NORMAL PROFILE ABSENT ATC INSTRUCTIONS TO MAINTAIN CURRENT SPD. LAST SPD GIVEN WAS TO CROSS QUAIL AT 280 KTS BY CTR.

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.