Narrative:

Due to thunderstorms in the area around phl en route to ewr 3 problems were encountered. 1) talking to washington center, approaching multiple thunderstorms at approximately FL190 on frequency 125.45 washington center would not respond to 3 radio calls. The air was jammed with other flts calling in asking for vectors, turns left or right to avoid cells. Our flight had to turn right before given permission. We waited 4-6 mins but washington center could not/would not acknowledge us. 2) washington center only mins later said they gave us a left turn which we did not make, it was given to another aircraft (time approximately XX48L). 3) during a descent to 9000 ft only mins later our flight went through 9000 ft by 300 ft but quickly returned to the assigned altitude. With 11 yrs of flying experience I have never heard such a messed up control system. Both captain and first officer did an outstanding job during this potential hazard, remaining cool, and professional. I do believe the controller was under training at this time. Controller was slow (as we all are at first). The supervisor came on and took over, but should have done so sooner. This situation could have been deadly!

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MULTIPLE DEVS AROUND TSTM ACTIVITY APPARENTLY OVERWHELMS ARTCC DEVELOPMENTAL CTLR AND RPTR'S ACFT IS UNABLE TO ESTABLISH CONTACT DURING HDG TRACK DEVS.

Narrative: DUE TO TSTMS IN THE AREA AROUND PHL ENRTE TO EWR 3 PROBLEMS WERE ENCOUNTERED. 1) TALKING TO WASHINGTON CENTER, APCHING MULTIPLE TSTMS AT APPROX FL190 ON FREQ 125.45 WASHINGTON CENTER WOULD NOT RESPOND TO 3 RADIO CALLS. THE AIR WAS JAMMED WITH OTHER FLTS CALLING IN ASKING FOR VECTORS, TURNS L OR R TO AVOID CELLS. OUR FLT HAD TO TURN R BEFORE GIVEN PERMISSION. WE WAITED 4-6 MINS BUT WASHINGTON CENTER COULD NOT/WOULD NOT ACKNOWLEDGE US. 2) WASHINGTON CENTER ONLY MINS LATER SAID THEY GAVE US A L TURN WHICH WE DID NOT MAKE, IT WAS GIVEN TO ANOTHER ACFT (TIME APPROX XX48L). 3) DURING A DSCNT TO 9000 FT ONLY MINS LATER OUR FLT WENT THROUGH 9000 FT BY 300 FT BUT QUICKLY RETURNED TO THE ASSIGNED ALT. WITH 11 YRS OF FLYING EXPERIENCE I HAVE NEVER HEARD SUCH A MESSED UP CTL SYS. BOTH CAPT AND FO DID AN OUTSTANDING JOB DURING THIS POTENTIAL HAZARD, REMAINING COOL, AND PROFESSIONAL. I DO BELIEVE THE CTLR WAS UNDER TRAINING AT THIS TIME. CTLR WAS SLOW (AS WE ALL ARE AT FIRST). THE SUPVR CAME ON AND TOOK OVER, BUT SHOULD HAVE DONE SO SOONER. THIS SITUATION COULD HAVE BEEN DEADLY!

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.