AN ACR TWIN JET FLC FAILS TO MAKE A LATE DSCNT CLRNC XING ALT IN PROX OF TSTM ACTIVITY 10 MI W OF LDN; VA.

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WE WERE AT FL200 DIRECT TO LDN ON THE JASEN 1 ARR TO IAD ARPT. WE RECEIVED A CLRNC TO CROSS 10 MI W OF LDN AT 11000 FT AND 250 KTS. THIS CLRNC WAS GIVEN WHEN WE WERE 25 MI W OF LDN VOR. THE CAPT BEGAN AN IMMEDIATE DSCNT AT IDLE PWR AND THE SPD BRAKES DEPLOYED TO ATTAIN THE MAX RATE OF DSCNT. IT WAS IMMEDIATELY APPARENT THAT THE XING RESTR WAS NOT READABLE (11000 FT AND 250 KTS) SO ATC TOLD US TO IGNORE THE 250 KT RESTR. THERE WERE TSTMS ON BOTH SIDES AND THE OPTION OF TURNING WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THERE WAS A GREAT DEAL OF RADIO CONGESTION. WE CHOSE TO TRY OUR BEST TO MAKE THE XING RESTR. WE WERE AT 13000 FT AT THE XING RESTR FIX; INSTEAD OF OUR ASSIGNED 11000 FT. THE CTLR ASKED OUR ALT WHEN WE WERE AT THE XING FIX AND I RESPONDED '13000 FT AND DSNDING.' THE CTLR REPLIED 'GOOD' AND TURNED US OVER TO APCH CTL. I FEEL WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN GIVEN MORE TIME TO MAKE THE XING RESTR. I BELIEVE THAT WE CHOSE THE SAFEST COURSE OF ACTION UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 475841: THE CTLR WAS BUSY AND THERE WAS A LOT OF RADIO CONGESTION.