MD80 flight crew misses clearance issued by ARTCC controller.

Attributes
ACN	695524
Time
Date	200604
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : zid.artcc
State Reference	IN
Altitude	msl single value : 33000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zid.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-80 Series (DC-9-80) Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
ASRS Report	695524
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued advisory
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft Flight Crew Human Performance ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	Ambiguous

Narrative:

We were informed by ATC that we were issued a clearance several times but failed to respond. We heard nothing until the controller called us in a stern voice to inform us that he could not reach us. Again; we did not hear any such transmission until his rather abrupt call. Only after I queried the controller did he inform me that a clearance was issued due to other air traffic. I have noticed that the west texas; forth worth frequencys are becoming a bit problematic recently. Controllers using multiple frequencys; pilots and controllers talking over one another; poor communication due to barely readable frequencys; and in my opinion; controllers that seem very stressed and overworked compared to other ctrs. To be honest; the controllers at ft worth seem to be having problems with their temper recently. If we missed a call; I will accept the responsibility; but I do not appreciate the increasing level of hostility by forth worth center toward my flight crews.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MD80 FLT CREW MISSES CLRNC ISSUED BY ARTCC CTLR.

Narrative: WE WERE INFORMED BY ATC THAT WE WERE ISSUED A CLRNC SEVERAL TIMES BUT FAILED TO RESPOND. WE HEARD NOTHING UNTIL THE CTLR CALLED US IN A STERN VOICE TO INFORM US THAT HE COULD NOT REACH US. AGAIN; WE DID NOT HEAR ANY SUCH XMISSION UNTIL HIS RATHER ABRUPT CALL. ONLY AFTER I QUERIED THE CTLR DID HE INFORM ME THAT A CLRNC WAS ISSUED DUE TO OTHER AIR TFC. I HAVE NOTICED THAT THE WEST TEXAS; FORTH WORTH FREQS ARE BECOMING A BIT PROBLEMATIC RECENTLY. CTLRS USING MULTIPLE FREQS; PLTS AND CTLRS TALKING OVER ONE ANOTHER; POOR COM DUE TO BARELY READABLE FREQS; AND IN MY OPINION; CTLRS THAT SEEM VERY STRESSED AND OVERWORKED COMPARED TO OTHER CTRS. TO BE HONEST; THE CTLRS AT FT WORTH SEEM TO BE HAVING PROBS WITH THEIR TEMPER RECENTLY. IF WE MISSED A CALL; I WILL ACCEPT THE RESPONSIBILITY; BUT I DO NOT APPRECIATE THE INCREASING LEVEL OF HOSTILITY BY FORTH WORTH CTR TOWARD MY FLT CREWS.

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.