Missed frequency change.

Attributes
ACN	156679
Time
Date	199009
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : stw
State Reference	NY
Altitude	msl bound lower : 19000 msl bound upper : 19000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zny
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Transport, High Wing, 2 Turboprop Eng
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	arrival other arrival star : star
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 240 flight time total : 3300 flight time type : 600
ASRS Report	156679
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : became reoriented other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

We were given a shortcut of direct wilkes-bare (avp) and the lendy two arrival jfk. Shortly after this, ATC handed us off to what I thought was ZNY on 133.35. The captain (being the PNF) read back a frequency change of 133.25. The controller handing us off did not correct him. I thought perhaps I did not hear correctly, but boston center in that area has 133.25, not ZNY. In any case, the captain selected 133.25 in the standby on #1 communication and was about to switch over. I was about to question the frequency when at this same moment, the F/a came to the cockpit to tell us we would need to call ahead to company for assistance for an unaccompanied minor. She stayed for about a min or two then left. This small distraction at this precise moment caused both myself and the captain to all but forget about that frequency change. Of course, the previous frequency was still on communication #1, with all it's reassuring chatter. We settled in for cruise. Luckily, we caught the error in good time before reaching ny.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MISSED FREQ CHANGE.

Narrative: WE WERE GIVEN A SHORTCUT OF DIRECT WILKES-BARE (AVP) AND THE LENDY TWO ARR JFK. SHORTLY AFTER THIS, ATC HANDED US OFF TO WHAT I THOUGHT WAS ZNY ON 133.35. THE CAPT (BEING THE PNF) READ BACK A FREQ CHANGE OF 133.25. THE CTLR HANDING US OFF DID NOT CORRECT HIM. I THOUGHT PERHAPS I DID NOT HEAR CORRECTLY, BUT BOSTON CTR IN THAT AREA HAS 133.25, NOT ZNY. IN ANY CASE, THE CAPT SELECTED 133.25 IN THE STANDBY ON #1 COM AND WAS ABOUT TO SWITCH OVER. I WAS ABOUT TO QUESTION THE FREQ WHEN AT THIS SAME MOMENT, THE F/A CAME TO THE COCKPIT TO TELL US WE WOULD NEED TO CALL AHEAD TO COMPANY FOR ASSISTANCE FOR AN UNACCOMPANIED MINOR. SHE STAYED FOR ABOUT A MIN OR TWO THEN LEFT. THIS SMALL DISTR AT THIS PRECISE MOMENT CAUSED BOTH MYSELF AND THE CAPT TO ALL BUT FORGET ABOUT THAT FREQ CHANGE. OF COURSE, THE PREVIOUS FREQ WAS STILL ON COM #1, WITH ALL IT'S REASSURING CHATTER. WE SETTLED IN FOR CRUISE. LUCKILY, WE CAUGHT THE ERROR IN GOOD TIME BEFORE REACHING NY.

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.