An MD88 crew using a designated code word, contacted the wrong ATC facility.

Attributes
ACN	529444
Time
Date	200111
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : iad.airport
State Reference	DC
Altitude	msl single value : 21000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : dca.tracon tower : iad.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-88
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine pilot : commercial pilot : atp pilot : cfi pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 250 flight time total : 5870 flight time type : 600
ASRS Report	529444
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Events
Anomaly	non adherence other other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	FAA Flight Crew Human Performance Airspace Structure
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

It was the first time flying into ZZZ for both the captain and myself since the 9/tue/01 events and the security briefing from our company had been looked at by both of us on flying into ZZZ, we could not remember if we had to use the code word on initial call up of ZZZ center or ZZZ approach, so we both agreed to use it on initial call up of both ZZZ center and approach. Uneventful approach and normal landing at ZZZ although it was a bit nerve racking not knowing for sure which facility required the use of that password on initial call up. Arrived at the gate and were informed that ZZZ approach had called our operations, wanting to talk to us. The captain talked to the controller and explained our confusion. It was certainly unintentional and we apologized. The controller informed us in no uncertain terms that the code word was to be used with approach not center. We/I won't make that mistake again.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN MD88 CREW USING A DESIGNATED CODE WORD, CONTACTED THE WRONG ATC FACILITY.

Narrative: IT WAS THE FIRST TIME FLYING INTO ZZZ FOR BOTH THE CAPT AND MYSELF SINCE THE 9/TUE/01 EVENTS AND THE SECURITY BRIEFING FROM OUR COMPANY HAD BEEN LOOKED AT BY BOTH OF US ON FLYING INTO ZZZ, WE COULD NOT REMEMBER IF WE HAD TO USE THE CODE WORD ON INITIAL CALL UP OF ZZZ CTR OR ZZZ APCH, SO WE BOTH AGREED TO USE IT ON INITIAL CALL UP OF BOTH ZZZ CTR AND APCH. UNEVENTFUL APCH AND NORMAL LNDG AT ZZZ ALTHOUGH IT WAS A BIT NERVE RACKING NOT KNOWING FOR SURE WHICH FACILITY REQUIRED THE USE OF THAT PASSWORD ON INITIAL CALL UP. ARRIVED AT THE GATE AND WERE INFORMED THAT ZZZ APCH HAD CALLED OUR OPS, WANTING TO TALK TO US. THE CAPT TALKED TO THE CTLR AND EXPLAINED OUR CONFUSION. IT WAS CERTAINLY UNINTENTIONAL AND WE APOLOGIZED. THE CTLR INFORMED US IN NO UNCERTAIN TERMS THAT THE CODE WORD WAS TO BE USED WITH APCH NOT CTR. WE/I WON'T MAKE THAT MISTAKE AGAIN.

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.