ATC communication failure at den TRACON leads to cftt for commuter flight crew.

Attributes
ACN	214254
Time
Date	199207
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : den
State Reference	CO
Altitude	msl bound lower : 9000 msl bound upper : 9000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : den
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Transport, High Wing, 2 Turboprop Eng
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 8000 flight time type : 2000
ASRS Report	214254
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 6400 flight time type : 2400
ASRS Report	214250
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far non adherence other other anomaly other other spatial deviation other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Navigational Facility
Air Traffic Incident	other
Situations
ATC Facility	other physical facility

Narrative:

Radar vectored for the ILS-DME-1 8R at den, north of approach course on vector heading of 260 at 9000 MSL. Knowing of and seeing the mountains west of denver (VMC) we tried calling and requesting a turn with no answer. At 20 DME, the GPWS went off commanding a pullup. Initiated a climbing left turn visually avoiding terrain. Called tower frequency and advised them. Calling ATC by phone afterward, they said they had a radio problem and were unable to contact 3 aircraft. Supplemental information from acn 214250: they told us that they tried many times to call us. Also they said they tried to call 3 other aircraft with no response. He blamed it on an ATC communication failure.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ATC COM FAILURE AT DEN TRACON LEADS TO CFTT FOR COMMUTER FLC.

Narrative: RADAR VECTORED FOR THE ILS-DME-1 8R AT DEN, N OF APCH COURSE ON VECTOR HDG OF 260 AT 9000 MSL. KNOWING OF AND SEEING THE MOUNTAINS W OF DENVER (VMC) WE TRIED CALLING AND REQUESTING A TURN WITH NO ANSWER. AT 20 DME, THE GPWS WENT OFF COMMANDING A PULLUP. INITIATED A CLBING L TURN VISUALLY AVOIDING TERRAIN. CALLED TWR FREQ AND ADVISED THEM. CALLING ATC BY PHONE AFTERWARD, THEY SAID THEY HAD A RADIO PROBLEM AND WERE UNABLE TO CONTACT 3 ACFT. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 214250: THEY TOLD US THAT THEY TRIED MANY TIMES TO CALL US. ALSO THEY SAID THEY TRIED TO CALL 3 OTHER ACFT WITH NO RESPONSE. HE BLAMED IT ON AN ATC COM FAILURE.

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.