Track deviation because of late clearance due to frequency congestion.

Attributes
ACN	109479
Time
Date	198904
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : obk
State Reference	IL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 8000 msl bound upper : 8000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : ord
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 280 flight time total : 5000 flight time type : 1500
ASRS Report	109479
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Ambiguous
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Deviation Pilot Deviation other

Narrative:

We were switched from ord center over to ord approach. Ord was landing 14L/14R and 9R. Approach frequency was congested and we couldn't get a word in. Our flight plan showed us flying over northbrook VOR. All traffic behind us were given a heading out of pappi intersection, so we thought we were going to runway 9R. Approach came back to us expecting us on a heading which was never assigned due to the congested frequency. I guess I'm a firm believer of more controllers at these already crowded airports.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: TRACK DEVIATION BECAUSE OF LATE CLRNC DUE TO FREQ CONGESTION.

Narrative: WE WERE SWITCHED FROM ORD CENTER OVER TO ORD APCH. ORD WAS LNDG 14L/14R AND 9R. APCH FREQ WAS CONGESTED AND WE COULDN'T GET A WORD IN. OUR FLT PLAN SHOWED US FLYING OVER NORTHBROOK VOR. ALL TFC BEHIND US WERE GIVEN A HDG OUT OF PAPPI INTXN, SO WE THOUGHT WE WERE GOING TO RWY 9R. APCH CAME BACK TO US EXPECTING US ON A HDG WHICH WAS NEVER ASSIGNED DUE TO THE CONGESTED FREQ. I GUESS I'M A FIRM BELIEVER OF MORE CTLRS AT THESE ALREADY CROWDED ARPTS.

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.