Medium large transport was unable to comply with restrictions of the profile descent procedure.

Attributes
ACN	82357
Time
Date	198802
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : lax
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 10000 msl bound upper : 13000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : lax
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	arrival : profile descent enroute airway : lax
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : flight engineer pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 240 flight time total : 11500 flight time type : 7000
ASRS Report	82357
Person 2
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met non adherence : published procedure non adherence : clearance other anomaly
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

150 mi out of lax, center asked us for our best forward speed for spacing. Descent from cruise altitude (FL350) was planned accordingly at 350 KTS. As we proceeded we were repeatedly slowed: 280 KTS, 250 KTS and finally 210 KTS approximately 60 mi out on the twentynine palms runway 25 profile descent. We advised center we could not make the FL180 restriction at civet and they ok'd the deviation. At approximately 47 DME I realized that even with the use of the speedbrake, we were going to be high at arnes. No problem, I thought, I'll just notify approach that we can't make the restriction. Center handed us off to approach about 2 mi later (45 DME), but the frequency was so busy we never got to talk to the controller prior to reaching arnes 3000' above the crossing altitude. The controller never said anything, but we did bust the restriction. Had I known the frequency was jammed up, I could have used the speedbrake sooner or even the landing gear as a last resort. I expected to be able to resolve by talking it over with the controller. Next time I won't hang myself out like that.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MLG WAS UNABLE TO COMPLY WITH RESTRICTIONS OF THE PROFILE DESCENT PROC.

Narrative: 150 MI OUT OF LAX, CENTER ASKED US FOR OUR BEST FORWARD SPD FOR SPACING. DSCNT FROM CRUISE ALT (FL350) WAS PLANNED ACCORDINGLY AT 350 KTS. AS WE PROCEEDED WE WERE REPEATEDLY SLOWED: 280 KTS, 250 KTS AND FINALLY 210 KTS APPROX 60 MI OUT ON THE TWENTYNINE PALMS RWY 25 PROFILE DSCNT. WE ADVISED CENTER WE COULD NOT MAKE THE FL180 RESTRICTION AT CIVET AND THEY OK'D THE DEVIATION. AT APPROX 47 DME I REALIZED THAT EVEN WITH THE USE OF THE SPEEDBRAKE, WE WERE GOING TO BE HIGH AT ARNES. NO PROB, I THOUGHT, I'LL JUST NOTIFY APCH THAT WE CAN'T MAKE THE RESTRICTION. CENTER HANDED US OFF TO APCH ABOUT 2 MI LATER (45 DME), BUT THE FREQ WAS SO BUSY WE NEVER GOT TO TALK TO THE CTLR PRIOR TO REACHING ARNES 3000' ABOVE THE XING ALT. THE CTLR NEVER SAID ANYTHING, BUT WE DID BUST THE RESTRICTION. HAD I KNOWN THE FREQ WAS JAMMED UP, I COULD HAVE USED THE SPEEDBRAKE SOONER OR EVEN THE LNDG GEAR AS A LAST RESORT. I EXPECTED TO BE ABLE TO RESOLVE BY TALKING IT OVER WITH THE CTLR. NEXT TIME I WON'T HANG MYSELF OUT LIKE THAT.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 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.