PIC of air carrier medium large transport claims approach controller gave them a heading and altitud...

Attributes
ACN	104468
Time
Date	198902
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : pdz
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 4000 msl bound upper : 5000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : ont
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : flight engineer pilot : atp
Experience	flight time total : 14000
ASRS Report	104468
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other other spatial deviation non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Deviation
Situations
ATC Facility	procedure or policy : unspecified

Narrative:

We were being vectored by the second approach controller at ontario. We had been given numerous headings and several clrncs to either proceed to pdz VOR and track outbnd on the 270 degree right, or headings. We were at 4000' MSL on a 210 degree heading when the controller wildly in a very panicked voice said, 'climb immediately to 5000', you are supposed to be on a 330 degree heading.' we climbed to 5000' rapidly and started turn to 330 degrees. Before we even reached the 330 degree heading we were turned back to 240 degree heading. Considering the very high terrain north of the pdz VOR the 330 degree heading would take you straight into a collision with the ground. Considering the total approach vectors and confusion by ontario approach, I feel they definitely lost control of the situation. I have had 4 similar situations in the last 2 yrs at den, lax, ont, sfo. I definitely feel we are at a very critical overload situation at many of our major airports with ATC. I have talked to many controllers who are very experienced and they frankly admit the situation is completely out of hand. It's just a matter of time until we have another major accident.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PIC OF ACR MLG CLAIMS APCH CTLR GAVE THEM A HEADING AND ALT THAT WAS CONTROLLED FLT TOWARD TERRAIN.

Narrative: WE WERE BEING VECTORED BY THE SECOND APCH CTLR AT ONTARIO. WE HAD BEEN GIVEN NUMEROUS HDGS AND SEVERAL CLRNCS TO EITHER PROCEED TO PDZ VOR AND TRACK OUTBND ON THE 270 DEG R, OR HDGS. WE WERE AT 4000' MSL ON A 210 DEG HDG WHEN THE CTLR WILDLY IN A VERY PANICKED VOICE SAID, 'CLB IMMEDIATELY TO 5000', YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO BE ON A 330 DEG HDG.' WE CLBED TO 5000' RAPIDLY AND STARTED TURN TO 330 DEGS. BEFORE WE EVEN REACHED THE 330 DEG HDG WE WERE TURNED BACK TO 240 DEG HDG. CONSIDERING THE VERY HIGH TERRAIN N OF THE PDZ VOR THE 330 DEG HDG WOULD TAKE YOU STRAIGHT INTO A COLLISION WITH THE GND. CONSIDERING THE TOTAL APCH VECTORS AND CONFUSION BY ONTARIO APCH, I FEEL THEY DEFINITELY LOST CONTROL OF THE SITUATION. I HAVE HAD 4 SIMILAR SITUATIONS IN THE LAST 2 YRS AT DEN, LAX, ONT, SFO. I DEFINITELY FEEL WE ARE AT A VERY CRITICAL OVERLOAD SITUATION AT MANY OF OUR MAJOR ARPTS WITH ATC. I HAVE TALKED TO MANY CTLRS WHO ARE VERY EXPERIENCED AND THEY FRANKLY ADMIT THE SITUATION IS COMPLETELY OUT OF HAND. IT'S JUST A MATTER OF TIME UNTIL WE HAVE ANOTHER MAJOR ACCIDENT.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 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.

PIC of air carrier medium large transport claims approach controller gave them a heading and altitude that was controlled flight toward terrain.