Aircraft with radio problems was instructed to squawk code 7700 instead of 7600.

Attributes
ACN	123867
Time
Date	198909
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	0001 To 0600
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : ape
State Reference	OH
Altitude	msl bound lower : 6000 msl bound upper : 6000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	Small Transport, Low Wing, 2 Recip Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute airway : day
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : cfi pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 3500 flight time type : 1000
ASRS Report	123867
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

While flying in VMC, I accepted a handoff from columbus approach to dayton approach. Upon selecting dayton (126.5) I made 3 attempts to contact dayton. I received a response after the 3RD attempt. Approximately 5 mi later, dayton advised me of traffic. I acknowledged the call. Dayton then advised me again of the traffic. Again I acknowledged. At this time dayton asked me to squawk 'identify'. I complied. Dayton then asked me to squawk '7700' if I was having radio trouble. At this time, I complied with their instruction to squawk '7700'. Dayton asked me to next squawk 'identify' if I had no other problem than my radio. I complied with this instruction. Dayton next asked if I wished to land at wilmington and to squawk identify if yes. I did not. At this time I selected 118.85 which I knew to be another frequency that dayton used. I was able to establish contact on 118.85 and continue my flight normally. At this time I was still squawking '7700'. My recommendation would be that when it appears there is a communication failure and ATC instructs the pilot to squawk '7700', that they then instruct them to squawk '7600' if the problem is communication only. If there is an emergency the pilot should remain on '7700'.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACFT WITH RADIO PROBLEMS WAS INSTRUCTED TO SQUAWK CODE 7700 INSTEAD OF 7600.

Narrative: WHILE FLYING IN VMC, I ACCEPTED A HANDOFF FROM COLUMBUS APCH TO DAYTON APCH. UPON SELECTING DAYTON (126.5) I MADE 3 ATTEMPTS TO CONTACT DAYTON. I RECEIVED A RESPONSE AFTER THE 3RD ATTEMPT. APPROX 5 MI LATER, DAYTON ADVISED ME OF TFC. I ACKNOWLEDGED THE CALL. DAYTON THEN ADVISED ME AGAIN OF THE TFC. AGAIN I ACKNOWLEDGED. AT THIS TIME DAYTON ASKED ME TO SQUAWK 'IDENT'. I COMPLIED. DAYTON THEN ASKED ME TO SQUAWK '7700' IF I WAS HAVING RADIO TROUBLE. AT THIS TIME, I COMPLIED WITH THEIR INSTRUCTION TO SQUAWK '7700'. DAYTON ASKED ME TO NEXT SQUAWK 'IDENT' IF I HAD NO OTHER PROBLEM THAN MY RADIO. I COMPLIED WITH THIS INSTRUCTION. DAYTON NEXT ASKED IF I WISHED TO LAND AT WILMINGTON AND TO SQUAWK IDENT IF YES. I DID NOT. AT THIS TIME I SELECTED 118.85 WHICH I KNEW TO BE ANOTHER FREQ THAT DAYTON USED. I WAS ABLE TO ESTABLISH CONTACT ON 118.85 AND CONTINUE MY FLT NORMALLY. AT THIS TIME I WAS STILL SQUAWKING '7700'. MY RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE THAT WHEN IT APPEARS THERE IS A COM FAILURE AND ATC INSTRUCTS THE PLT TO SQUAWK '7700', THAT THEY THEN INSTRUCT THEM TO SQUAWK '7600' IF THE PROBLEM IS COM ONLY. IF THERE IS AN EMER THE PLT SHOULD REMAIN ON '7700'.

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.