Narrative:

Setting up the cockpit for an ILS to minimums at cle. The PNF (captain) was rechking ATIS on communication #1 while the first officer (PF) took the duties of primary radio on communication #2. Communication #2 was up ZOB. A frequency switch was called by ZOB (or so I thought) for 'aircraft X; contact cleveland approach on 120.6; altimeter is XXX.xx.' I rogered the frequency change and instructed the PNF; who had just finished with ATIS; to check us in with approach on communication #2. He tried twice on 120.6 and got no response. So; we went back to our last assigned frequency with ZOB. Center advised that they had similar frequency miscoms from 'someone on the ground' and that '120.6' was a 'phantom controller.' we were instructed to remain with center and a few mi later were handed to approach and began the ILS to cle without further incident. At the hotel later that night; company called the captain and a conference call was made with ZOB to discuss the incident. At no time were we vectored off course or given an altitude change. Once on 120.6; no communication was made with the 'phantom controller' and we returned to the 'real' controller (ZOB) without incident other than a few mins of radio frequency confusion.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ENRTE CIVIL JET AT 11000 FT WITH ZOB; RECEIVED FREQ CHANGE INSTRUCTIONS FROM AN APPARENT PHANTOM CTLR.

Narrative: SETTING UP THE COCKPIT FOR AN ILS TO MINIMUMS AT CLE. THE PNF (CAPT) WAS RECHKING ATIS ON COM #1 WHILE THE FO (PF) TOOK THE DUTIES OF PRIMARY RADIO ON COM #2. COM #2 WAS UP ZOB. A FREQ SWITCH WAS CALLED BY ZOB (OR SO I THOUGHT) FOR 'ACFT X; CONTACT CLEVELAND APCH ON 120.6; ALTIMETER IS XXX.XX.' I ROGERED THE FREQ CHANGE AND INSTRUCTED THE PNF; WHO HAD JUST FINISHED WITH ATIS; TO CHK US IN WITH APCH ON COM #2. HE TRIED TWICE ON 120.6 AND GOT NO RESPONSE. SO; WE WENT BACK TO OUR LAST ASSIGNED FREQ WITH ZOB. CTR ADVISED THAT THEY HAD SIMILAR FREQ MISCOMS FROM 'SOMEONE ON THE GND' AND THAT '120.6' WAS A 'PHANTOM CTLR.' WE WERE INSTRUCTED TO REMAIN WITH CTR AND A FEW MI LATER WERE HANDED TO APCH AND BEGAN THE ILS TO CLE WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. AT THE HOTEL LATER THAT NIGHT; COMPANY CALLED THE CAPT AND A CONFERENCE CALL WAS MADE WITH ZOB TO DISCUSS THE INCIDENT. AT NO TIME WERE WE VECTORED OFF COURSE OR GIVEN AN ALT CHANGE. ONCE ON 120.6; NO COM WAS MADE WITH THE 'PHANTOM CTLR' AND WE RETURNED TO THE 'REAL' CTLR (ZOB) WITHOUT INCIDENT OTHER THAN A FEW MINS OF RADIO FREQ CONFUSION.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.