Center and TRACON phraseology and procedures confused commuter flight crew.

Attributes
ACN	309560
Time
Date	199507
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : iad
State Reference	VA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 13000 msl bound upper : 13000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : iad tracon : zny
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Jetstream 32
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 5000 flight time type : 3000
ASRS Report	309560
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

Holding at hyper intersection because of thunderstorm at iad. Was given holding instructions and told radar service terminated. Also, we were told to stay with ZNY which I verified because everyone else was told to monitor iad approach. I stayed with ny and monitored iad out of my own concerns regarding fuel and what number we would be. While monitoring iad they called us twice, so I answered even though we were not supposed to be with them. He told us to maintain 13000 ft, and direct mrb. I told him that we weren't supposed to be with him and he said 'radar service was terminated wasn't it?' I said yes. So he said again 'maintain 13000 ft and direct mrb.' so we followed his instructions.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CTR AND TRACON PHRASEOLOGY AND PROCS CONFUSED COMMUTER FLC.

Narrative: HOLDING AT HYPER INTXN BECAUSE OF TSTM AT IAD. WAS GIVEN HOLDING INSTRUCTIONS AND TOLD RADAR SVC TERMINATED. ALSO, WE WERE TOLD TO STAY WITH ZNY WHICH I VERIFIED BECAUSE EVERYONE ELSE WAS TOLD TO MONITOR IAD APCH. I STAYED WITH NY AND MONITORED IAD OUT OF MY OWN CONCERNS REGARDING FUEL AND WHAT NUMBER WE WOULD BE. WHILE MONITORING IAD THEY CALLED US TWICE, SO I ANSWERED EVEN THOUGH WE WERE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE WITH THEM. HE TOLD US TO MAINTAIN 13000 FT, AND DIRECT MRB. I TOLD HIM THAT WE WEREN'T SUPPOSED TO BE WITH HIM AND HE SAID 'RADAR SVC WAS TERMINATED WASN'T IT?' I SAID YES. SO HE SAID AGAIN 'MAINTAIN 13000 FT AND DIRECT MRB.' SO WE FOLLOWED HIS INSTRUCTIONS.

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.