Narrative:

While taxiing from the ramp, we were cleared to taxi and hold short of runway 27L. The controller was working ground, tower and clearance we were the second DC8 and ATC was confused as to our position. The captain told him we were #2. This further confused the controller as the first DC8 was crossing runway 27L at taxiway uniform, and we were #1 at the hold short. ATC said they cleared us to cross runway 27L, but we copied no such clearance. There was no runway incursion. ATC should not work 3 frequencys at the same time.

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: DC8-73 CREW HAD AN OVERWORKED AND CONFUSED CTLR AT 'O DARK 30' ON TAXI OUT, AT PHL.

Narrative: WHILE TAXIING FROM THE RAMP, WE WERE CLRED TO TAXI AND HOLD SHORT OF RWY 27L. THE CTLR WAS WORKING GND, TWR AND CLRNC WE WERE THE SECOND DC8 AND ATC WAS CONFUSED AS TO OUR POS. THE CAPT TOLD HIM WE WERE #2. THIS FURTHER CONFUSED THE CTLR AS THE FIRST DC8 WAS XING RWY 27L AT TXWY UNIFORM, AND WE WERE #1 AT THE HOLD SHORT. ATC SAID THEY CLRED US TO CROSS RWY 27L, BUT WE COPIED NO SUCH CLRNC. THERE WAS NO RWY INCURSION. ATC SHOULD NOT WORK 3 FREQS AT THE SAME TIME.

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.