<< >> NASA ASRS Report 521220, August 2001

A B737 switches to wrong frequency, and commercial radio has to give the flight crew the correct ATCT frequency.

Attributes
ACN	521220
Time
Date	200108
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : zlc.artcc
State Reference	UT
Altitude	msl single value : 33000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-200
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : foreign
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 210 flight time total : 19300 flight time type : 1700
ASRS Report	521220
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Resolutory Action	controller : issued advisory other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

In the cruise, I noticed that the #2 communication was not tuned to the local commercial radio frequency. As soon as it was tuned in, commercial radio called and advised us to call ZLC on 132.40. I thought it was slc commercial radio and gave them a call. ZLC replied and 'checked us level at FL330.' I think we had been trucking along on the 2ND last ATC frequency given. If we had been given the new frequency it was not switched over. There had been some minor distractions on the flight deck, but I have no idea if one happened when we were called. Fatigue may have played a large part. Due to a variety of distractions I only got 4 hours of sleep the previous night and although I felt pretty good my performance 18 hours later, was likely not up to PAR. Like hypoxia or vertigo you have to ignore the bodily sensations of fatigue or lack thereof and go on hard and fast rules or knowledge versus feeling.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B737 SWITCHES TO WRONG FREQ, AND COMMERCIAL RADIO HAS TO GIVE THE FLT CREW THE CORRECT ATCT FREQ.

Narrative: IN THE CRUISE, I NOTICED THAT THE #2 COM WAS NOT TUNED TO THE LCL COMMERCIAL RADIO FREQ. AS SOON AS IT WAS TUNED IN, COMMERCIAL RADIO CALLED AND ADVISED US TO CALL ZLC ON 132.40. I THOUGHT IT WAS SLC COMMERCIAL RADIO AND GAVE THEM A CALL. ZLC REPLIED AND 'CHKED US LEVEL AT FL330.' I THINK WE HAD BEEN TRUCKING ALONG ON THE 2ND LAST ATC FREQ GIVEN. IF WE HAD BEEN GIVEN THE NEW FREQ IT WAS NOT SWITCHED OVER. THERE HAD BEEN SOME MINOR DISTRACTIONS ON THE FLT DECK, BUT I HAVE NO IDEA IF ONE HAPPENED WHEN WE WERE CALLED. FATIGUE MAY HAVE PLAYED A LARGE PART. DUE TO A VARIETY OF DISTRACTIONS I ONLY GOT 4 HRS OF SLEEP THE PREVIOUS NIGHT AND ALTHOUGH I FELT PRETTY GOOD MY PERFORMANCE 18 HRS LATER, WAS LIKELY NOT UP TO PAR. LIKE HYPOXIA OR VERTIGO YOU HAVE TO IGNORE THE BODILY SENSATIONS OF FATIGUE OR LACK THEREOF AND GO ON HARD AND FAST RULES OR KNOWLEDGE VERSUS FEELING.

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.