Narrative:

During approach to atl airport from the north, the copilot (PNF) reached across the console to tune and identify the captain's (PF) navigation-1 radio to the ILS frequency. After receiving the correct identify signal the copilot mistakenly turned down the communication-1 (approach control) volume. We continued to proceed directly toward the airport on our last assigned heading. One of the pilots stated that we were getting close to the airport and we would need a turn or descent soon (we could clearly see the airport in VMC). The copilot then stated that the radio frequency was very quiet and immediately checked the volume control. With this problem discovered the captain advised the copilot to contact ATC immediately. The copilot contacted approach control and they informed us that they had been attempting to contact us. We were given a vector to the downwind. The remaining approach and landing were normal. As I was completing some final items for the approach on the engineer's panel. I can not say exactly how long the communication-1 volume was turned down.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR LGT FLC LOSES COM WITH TRACON DUE FINGER TROUBLE ON APCH TO ATL.

Narrative: DURING APCH TO ATL ARPT FROM THE N, THE COPLT (PNF) REACHED ACROSS THE CONSOLE TO TUNE AND IDENT THE CAPT'S (PF) NAV-1 RADIO TO THE ILS FREQ. AFTER RECEIVING THE CORRECT IDENT SIGNAL THE COPLT MISTAKENLY TURNED DOWN THE COM-1 (APCH CTL) VOLUME. WE CONTINUED TO PROCEED DIRECTLY TOWARD THE ARPT ON OUR LAST ASSIGNED HDG. ONE OF THE PLTS STATED THAT WE WERE GETTING CLOSE TO THE ARPT AND WE WOULD NEED A TURN OR DSNT SOON (WE COULD CLRLY SEE THE ARPT IN VMC). THE COPLT THEN STATED THAT THE RADIO FREQ WAS VERY QUIET AND IMMEDIATELY CHKED THE VOLUME CTL. WITH THIS PROB DISCOVERED THE CAPT ADVISED THE COPLT TO CONTACT ATC IMMEDIATELY. THE COPLT CONTACTED APCH CTL AND THEY INFORMED US THAT THEY HAD BEEN ATTEMPTING TO CONTACT US. WE WERE GIVEN A VECTOR TO THE DOWNWIND. THE REMAINING APCH AND LNDG WERE NORMAL. AS I WAS COMPLETING SOME FINAL ITEMS FOR THE APCH ON THE ENGINEER'S PANEL. I CAN NOT SAY EXACTLY HOW LONG THE COM-1 VOLUME WAS TURNED DOWN.

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.