Narrative:

En route from boston to newark, we were given a clearance to proceed direct to sparta, cross 25 mi north at 7000 ft. I dialed in 112.9, instead of 115.7, by mistake. The first officer had left the cockpit to go to the lavatory, so I didn't have a back-up. I started my descent 65 DME north of solberg VOR (112.9), thinking it was 65 DME north of sax. I called center and told them I was beginning my descent. A min or 2 later, they asked if I was descending to cross 25 mi north at 7000 ft, and I answered affirmative. A short interval later, center said I was 'really going to miss it,' or something similar. At that point, I was around 50 DME, 10000 ft, and I realized I had the wrong frequency in the #1 VOR. I blurted 'oh yeah' to center, and tuned in the correct frequency 115.7. We were already at 25 DME, so I was 3000 ft high. Just then, the first officer returned. Center gave us a new york approach frequency and we descended uneventfully. This gross error could have been prevented had I simply looked at the chart for the correct frequency. I'm going to make a strong effort to aurally identify each VOR when I tune it in -- something they tell student pilots.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLC ALTDEV ALT UNDERSHOT IN DSCNT ALT XING RESTR NOT MET. PIC FAILED TO IDENT THE VOR AFTER TUNING IN WRONG FREQ.

Narrative: ENRTE FROM BOSTON TO NEWARK, WE WERE GIVEN A CLRNC TO PROCEED DIRECT TO SPARTA, CROSS 25 MI N AT 7000 FT. I DIALED IN 112.9, INSTEAD OF 115.7, BY MISTAKE. THE FO HAD LEFT THE COCKPIT TO GO TO THE LAVATORY, SO I DIDN'T HAVE A BACK-UP. I STARTED MY DSCNT 65 DME N OF SOLBERG VOR (112.9), THINKING IT WAS 65 DME N OF SAX. I CALLED CTR AND TOLD THEM I WAS BEGINNING MY DSCNT. A MIN OR 2 LATER, THEY ASKED IF I WAS DSNDING TO CROSS 25 MI N AT 7000 FT, AND I ANSWERED AFFIRMATIVE. A SHORT INTERVAL LATER, CTR SAID I WAS 'REALLY GOING TO MISS IT,' OR SOMETHING SIMILAR. AT THAT POINT, I WAS AROUND 50 DME, 10000 FT, AND I REALIZED I HAD THE WRONG FREQ IN THE #1 VOR. I BLURTED 'OH YEAH' TO CTR, AND TUNED IN THE CORRECT FREQ 115.7. WE WERE ALREADY AT 25 DME, SO I WAS 3000 FT HIGH. JUST THEN, THE FO RETURNED. CTR GAVE US A NEW YORK APCH FREQ AND WE DSNDED UNEVENTFULLY. THIS GROSS ERROR COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED HAD I SIMPLY LOOKED AT THE CHART FOR THE CORRECT FREQ. I'M GOING TO MAKE A STRONG EFFORT TO AURALLY IDENT EACH VOR WHEN I TUNE IT IN -- SOMETHING THEY TELL STUDENT PLTS.

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.