Commuter aircraft missed frequency change. NORAC for a while.

Attributes
ACN	238965
Time
Date	199304
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : sbv
State Reference	VA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 16000 msl bound upper : 16000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Light Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turboprop Eng
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute airway : zdc
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 225 flight time total : 4600 flight time type : 700
ASRS Report	238965
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

At 16000 ft 5 NM from sbv VOR I realized we had never been given a lower altitude. We usually cross sbv at 10000 for arrival into rdu. I realized this and looked down at communication radio to see frequency 120.05. My first officer had contacted 120.05 about 75 NM back while I was giving passenger en route briefing. He said ATC had responded, but I knew frequency in this sector was 124.05. We contacted 124.05 and they gave us a descent to cross alden intersection (18 mi south sbv) at 8000 ft. We complied with this crossing restriction and we were handed over to raleigh approach (128.3) without incident. In the future, I will monitor first officer's activities more closely while I am off the frequency for whatever reason.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: COMMUTER ACFT MISSED FREQ CHANGE. NORAC FOR A WHILE.

Narrative: AT 16000 FT 5 NM FROM SBV VOR I REALIZED WE HAD NEVER BEEN GIVEN A LOWER ALT. WE USUALLY CROSS SBV AT 10000 FOR ARR INTO RDU. I REALIZED THIS AND LOOKED DOWN AT COM RADIO TO SEE FREQ 120.05. MY FO HAD CONTACTED 120.05 ABOUT 75 NM BACK WHILE I WAS GIVING PAX ENRTE BRIEFING. HE SAID ATC HAD RESPONDED, BUT I KNEW FREQ IN THIS SECTOR WAS 124.05. WE CONTACTED 124.05 AND THEY GAVE US A DSCNT TO CROSS ALDEN INTXN (18 MI S SBV) AT 8000 FT. WE COMPLIED WITH THIS XING RESTRICTION AND WE WERE HANDED OVER TO RALEIGH APCH (128.3) WITHOUT INCIDENT. IN THE FUTURE, I WILL MONITOR FO'S ACTIVITIES MORE CLOSELY WHILE I AM OFF THE FREQ FOR WHATEVER REASON.

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.