Narrative:

After 2 turns in the holding pattern at plant intersection, we were handed off to chicago approach and given direct ord VOR, expecting ILS 9R. We were later given step down dscnts from 9000' to 5000', vectors west, expect the ols 4R, and then down to 4000'. The captain assumed PF duties while I briefed the approach. On a 70 degree intercept angle, descending to 4000' at 250 KTS, the captain returned the aircraft to my control. Simultaneously, to localizer started off the side of the instrument and we were cleared for the ILS 4R, maintain 2200' until established on the localizer. We were high and fast and 'dumped' on the approach. We configured and attempted the approach. The captain contacted tower twice and received no response. When it was obvious we were in no position to land, we flew the missed approach, contacted departure and were vectored back for a successful ILS 4R approach and landing. In a later telephone call to tower it was determined that approach had never 'handed us off' to tower personnel. So they were confused by our calls for landing, since they were not expecting us. The WX was poor and approach control was harried, but approach dropped the ball in this situation. The mishandling we received was a set up for an accident.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLC HAD TO MAKE A MISSED APCH AS THE RESULT OF POOR VECTORING TO THE FINAL APCH COURSE.

Narrative: AFTER 2 TURNS IN THE HOLDING PATTERN AT PLANT INTXN, WE WERE HANDED OFF TO CHICAGO APCH AND GIVEN DIRECT ORD VOR, EXPECTING ILS 9R. WE WERE LATER GIVEN STEP DOWN DSCNTS FROM 9000' TO 5000', VECTORS W, EXPECT THE OLS 4R, AND THEN DOWN TO 4000'. THE CAPT ASSUMED PF DUTIES WHILE I BRIEFED THE APCH. ON A 70 DEG INTERCEPT ANGLE, DSNDING TO 4000' AT 250 KTS, THE CAPT RETURNED THE ACFT TO MY CTL. SIMULTANEOUSLY, TO LOC STARTED OFF THE SIDE OF THE INSTRUMENT AND WE WERE CLRED FOR THE ILS 4R, MAINTAIN 2200' UNTIL ESTABLISHED ON THE LOC. WE WERE HIGH AND FAST AND 'DUMPED' ON THE APCH. WE CONFIGURED AND ATTEMPTED THE APCH. THE CAPT CONTACTED TWR TWICE AND RECEIVED NO RESPONSE. WHEN IT WAS OBVIOUS WE WERE IN NO POS TO LAND, WE FLEW THE MISSED APCH, CONTACTED DEP AND WERE VECTORED BACK FOR A SUCCESSFUL ILS 4R APCH AND LNDG. IN A LATER TELEPHONE CALL TO TWR IT WAS DETERMINED THAT APCH HAD NEVER 'HANDED US OFF' TO TWR PERSONNEL. SO THEY WERE CONFUSED BY OUR CALLS FOR LNDG, SINCE THEY WERE NOT EXPECTING US. THE WX WAS POOR AND APCH CTL WAS HARRIED, BUT APCH DROPPED THE BALL IN THIS SITUATION. THE MISHANDLING WE RECEIVED WAS A SET UP FOR AN ACCIDENT.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 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.