ATC workload heavy, clearance received, readback. Next sector controller thought clearance different...

Attributes
ACN	108537
Time
Date	198903
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : pvd
State Reference	RI
Altitude	msl bound lower : 12000 msl bound upper : 17000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zbw
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Medium Transport
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	enroute : direct enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 80 flight time total : 8300 flight time type : 150
ASRS Report	108537
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

While working ZBW during busy bos arrival time center cleared us direct to pvd VORTAC (which was not part of our original clearance) and then direct. (Destination kbos.) we were descending from 17000' to 12000' (having departed khpn). At time of our readback to center we were just 10 DME southwest of pvd VORTAC and reduced to 250 KIAS. At this time (she) the ATC controller was busy with numerous traffic mix (airline, corp jet, and commuter turbo propellers). We proceeded direct to pvd and then started to proceed direct to bos VORTAC this entire time controller was trying to straighten out a 2 air carrier conflict of clearance (very much frequency congestion). No stop instruction to numerous aircraft, but most professional and calm. But no time for readbacks because all xmissions would be scrambled. After passing pvd we were instructed to contact bos approach 120.60. In doing so bos approach informed us we should be proceeding to inndy intersection not bos VORTAC, and to fly an assigned heading so this might be accomplished. He (120.60) asked what our clearance was and that he was under the impression we were going to inndy intersection. We were in radar contact at all times and no evasive actions were required or was safety jeopardized. Seemingly, the en route controller was too busy and a breakdown occurred between center and approach control. All in all ATC does a splendid job and are assets to the aviation--aerospace community. Their efforts are greatly appreciated.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ATC WORKLOAD HEAVY, CLRNC RECEIVED, READBACK. NEXT SECTOR CTLR THOUGHT CLRNC DIFFERENT FROM WHAT WAS BEING FLOWN. VECTORED TO CHANGE CORRECT ACCORDINGLY.

Narrative: WHILE WORKING ZBW DURING BUSY BOS ARR TIME CENTER CLRED US DIRECT TO PVD VORTAC (WHICH WAS NOT PART OF OUR ORIGINAL CLRNC) AND THEN DIRECT. (DEST KBOS.) WE WERE DSNDING FROM 17000' TO 12000' (HAVING DEPARTED KHPN). AT TIME OF OUR READBACK TO CENTER WE WERE JUST 10 DME SW OF PVD VORTAC AND REDUCED TO 250 KIAS. AT THIS TIME (SHE) THE ATC CTLR WAS BUSY WITH NUMEROUS TFC MIX (AIRLINE, CORP JET, AND COMMUTER TURBO PROPS). WE PROCEEDED DIRECT TO PVD AND THEN STARTED TO PROCEED DIRECT TO BOS VORTAC THIS ENTIRE TIME CTLR WAS TRYING TO STRAIGHTEN OUT A 2 ACR CONFLICT OF CLRNC (VERY MUCH FREQ CONGESTION). NO STOP INSTRUCTION TO NUMEROUS ACFT, BUT MOST PROFESSIONAL AND CALM. BUT NO TIME FOR READBACKS BECAUSE ALL XMISSIONS WOULD BE SCRAMBLED. AFTER PASSING PVD WE WERE INSTRUCTED TO CONTACT BOS APCH 120.60. IN DOING SO BOS APCH INFORMED US WE SHOULD BE PROCEEDING TO INNDY INTXN NOT BOS VORTAC, AND TO FLY AN ASSIGNED HDG SO THIS MIGHT BE ACCOMPLISHED. HE (120.60) ASKED WHAT OUR CLRNC WAS AND THAT HE WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION WE WERE GOING TO INNDY INTXN. WE WERE IN RADAR CONTACT AT ALL TIMES AND NO EVASIVE ACTIONS WERE REQUIRED OR WAS SAFETY JEOPARDIZED. SEEMINGLY, THE ENRTE CTLR WAS TOO BUSY AND A BREAKDOWN OCCURRED BTWN CENTER AND APCH CTL. ALL IN ALL ATC DOES A SPLENDID JOB AND ARE ASSETS TO THE AVIATION--AEROSPACE COMMUNITY. THEIR EFFORTS ARE GREATLY APPRECIATED.

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.

ATC workload heavy, clearance received, readback. Next sector controller thought clearance different from what was being flown. Vectored to change correct accordingly.