Narrative:

Cleared balance direct dca VOR, at 5000 ft MSL, anticipating mount vernon visual approach to runway 1. Several mi northeast of VOR when ATC said what we heard as 'air carrier abcd change to my frequency 120.2,' the first officer read back 120.2, changed frequency, and attempted to check in. My attention was focused on traffic, and the first officer and myself discussed the approach. There was still no response from ATC. When only a few mi from the dca VOR, I asked the first officer 'don't they usually turn you by now?' 'I wonder if they intend to take us across the airport?' the first officer recalled getting no response from ATC on 120.2 and returned to the previous frequency. The controller stated he had given us 120.42 and 'apologized for his accent.' we were then given a left turn heading 140 degrees and in the turn, a right turn heading 250 degrees. There was no traffic conflict but our proximity to P56 was too close for my comfort level.

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A320 CREW HAD NO COM WITH A NEW APCH CTLR AFTER A FREQ HDOF ERROR.

Narrative: CLRED BAL DIRECT DCA VOR, AT 5000 FT MSL, ANTICIPATING MOUNT VERNON VISUAL APCH TO RWY 1. SEVERAL MI NE OF VOR WHEN ATC SAID WHAT WE HEARD AS 'ACR ABCD CHANGE TO MY FREQ 120.2,' THE FO READ BACK 120.2, CHANGED FREQ, AND ATTEMPTED TO CHK IN. MY ATTN WAS FOCUSED ON TFC, AND THE FO AND MYSELF DISCUSSED THE APCH. THERE WAS STILL NO RESPONSE FROM ATC. WHEN ONLY A FEW MI FROM THE DCA VOR, I ASKED THE FO 'DON'T THEY USUALLY TURN YOU BY NOW?' 'I WONDER IF THEY INTEND TO TAKE US ACROSS THE ARPT?' THE FO RECALLED GETTING NO RESPONSE FROM ATC ON 120.2 AND RETURNED TO THE PREVIOUS FREQ. THE CTLR STATED HE HAD GIVEN US 120.42 AND 'APOLOGIZED FOR HIS ACCENT.' WE WERE THEN GIVEN A L TURN HDG 140 DEGS AND IN THE TURN, A R TURN HDG 250 DEGS. THERE WAS NO TFC CONFLICT BUT OUR PROX TO P56 WAS TOO CLOSE FOR MY COMFORT LEVEL.

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.