UNSTABILIZED APCH TO MEM. ATC DOESN'T LIKE THE WAY HE SET IT UP SO HE STARTS OVER. CREW IS MIFFED.

Narrative

WE WERE BEING VECTORED FOR A VISUAL APCH TO MEM. WE WERE KIND OF HIGH; CLOSE IN (6000 FT MSL; APPROX 7-8 MI OUT ON LOC); BUT WE FELT WE COULD MAKE A SAFE APCH AND LNDG. THE CTLR CLRED US INITIALLY FOR THE VISUAL; THEN SAID 'TURN L 090 DEGS; YOU'RE TOO CLOSE TO MAKE IT.' I REPLIED THAT WE COULD MAKE IT IF HE WOULD LET US CONTINUE. AT THIS TIME; WE HAD SPD BRAKES AND SLATS EXTENDED AND WERE ABOUT 6 MI AND 4000 FT. HE SAID 'NO; IT WON'T BE A STABILIZED APCH.' I REPLIED THAT WE SHOULD BE THE ONES TO DETERMINE THAT; NOT HIM. HE SAID 'I'M CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY;' IMPLYING; I GUESS; WE WEREN'T. MEANWHILE; FO OVERRODE THE AUTOPLT; TRIPPING IT OFF; TRYING TO LEVEL OFF AT 3000 FT AND TURN AS DIRECTED. I SAW AN ALT OF 2700 FT BEFORE HE CORRECTED BACK TO 3000 FT. I BELIEVE THAT THE CTLR CAUSED THE DESTABILIZATION WHEN HE BROKE OFF THE APCH. WE DO THIS ALL THE TIME AND ARE QUITE CAPABLE OF JUDGING A SAFE APCH. I WAS OFFENDED BY HIS PRESUMPTION OF OUR CAPABILITIES AND HIS IMPLICATION THAT WE WERE BEING RECKLESS.