ATC failed to complete handoff to next sector.

Attributes
ACN	104421
Time
Date	198902
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : gsh
State Reference	IN
Altitude	msl bound lower : 28000 msl bound upper : 28000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zau
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Medium Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turboprop Eng
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 9800 flight time type : 1000
ASRS Report	104421
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Deviation Inter Facility Coordination Failure

Narrative:

While on an instrument flight plan from bwi to mdw, we were flying west on J60 toward gsh. Cle requested more speed and we offered to descend to FL280 from FL310 so we could add about 30 K to our ground speed and help out the spacing into mdw. After descending, we never talked with cle again, although we were monitoring a constant flow of conversation between cle and other aircraft. Finally when 53 mi out of gsh at FL280, I became concerned about getting down in time to meet the crossing restrictions we normally have going into our home base of mdw. I asked cle for a lower altitude and they responded with, 'say your location!' they then switched me to the chicago center, whom I found to be treating us as a norad. We eventually got it sorted out (after a 360 degree turn for descent) and I spoke with the chicago ATC supervisor when on the ground. He said that is quite common to have cle not assuring that a handoff has in fact been accomplished. There was a lot of conversation on the frequency, but we never heard out call sign after the descent to FL280.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ATC FAILED TO COMPLETE HANDOFF TO NEXT SECTOR.

Narrative: WHILE ON AN INSTRUMENT FLT PLAN FROM BWI TO MDW, WE WERE FLYING W ON J60 TOWARD GSH. CLE REQUESTED MORE SPD AND WE OFFERED TO DSND TO FL280 FROM FL310 SO WE COULD ADD ABOUT 30 K TO OUR GND SPD AND HELP OUT THE SPACING INTO MDW. AFTER DSNDING, WE NEVER TALKED WITH CLE AGAIN, ALTHOUGH WE WERE MONITORING A CONSTANT FLOW OF CONVERSATION BTWN CLE AND OTHER ACFT. FINALLY WHEN 53 MI OUT OF GSH AT FL280, I BECAME CONCERNED ABOUT GETTING DOWN IN TIME TO MEET THE XING RESTRICTIONS WE NORMALLY HAVE GOING INTO OUR HOME BASE OF MDW. I ASKED CLE FOR A LOWER ALT AND THEY RESPONDED WITH, 'SAY YOUR LOCATION!' THEY THEN SWITCHED ME TO THE CHICAGO CENTER, WHOM I FOUND TO BE TREATING US AS A NORAD. WE EVENTUALLY GOT IT SORTED OUT (AFTER A 360 DEG TURN FOR DSCNT) AND I SPOKE WITH THE CHICAGO ATC SUPVR WHEN ON THE GND. HE SAID THAT IS QUITE COMMON TO HAVE CLE NOT ASSURING THAT A HDOF HAS IN FACT BEEN ACCOMPLISHED. THERE WAS A LOT OF CONVERSATION ON THE FREQ, BUT WE NEVER HEARD OUT CALL SIGN AFTER THE DSCNT TO FL280.

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.