Commuter experiences apparent rco outage while enroute gcc.

Attributes
ACN	157891
Time
Date	199009
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : gcc
State Reference	WY
Altitude	msl bound lower : 8000 msl bound upper : 8000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : gcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Transport, High Wing, 2 Turboprop Eng
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	cruise other descent : approach landing other
Route In Use	enroute airway : zlc
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 4200 flight time type : 260
ASRS Report	157891
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 3800 flight time type : 400
ASRS Report	158149
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Navigational Facility
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

In shr we were cleared by slt lake center to gcc as filed, direct, to maintain 8000' due to crossing traffic. Once airborne we were unable to contact slc center due to an rco failure. We tried another slc frequency to no avail. By this we were 18 mi west of gillette so I contacted the tower and explained my situation to them. They told us to report a 3 mi right base to runway 16. We reported a 3 mi right base and the tower replied, 'not in sight, cleared to land.' we then vacated 8000' and started completed our visibility approach/landing. We never received a clearance from slc for the (visibility approach). However, we did not vacate 8000' until cleared to land by gillette tower. Supplemental information from acn 158149. I contacted sheridan radio and notified the operator that I could not contact slc. He said just keep trying there is an rco inoperative in the area.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: COMMUTER EXPERIENCES APPARENT RCO OUTAGE WHILE ENROUTE GCC.

Narrative: IN SHR WE WERE CLRED BY SLT LAKE CTR TO GCC AS FILED, DIRECT, TO MAINTAIN 8000' DUE TO XING TFC. ONCE AIRBORNE WE WERE UNABLE TO CONTACT SLC CTR DUE TO AN RCO FAILURE. WE TRIED ANOTHER SLC FREQ TO NO AVAIL. BY THIS WE WERE 18 MI W OF GILLETTE SO I CONTACTED THE TWR AND EXPLAINED MY SITUATION TO THEM. THEY TOLD US TO RPT A 3 MI R BASE TO RWY 16. WE RPTED A 3 MI R BASE AND THE TWR REPLIED, 'NOT IN SIGHT, CLRED TO LAND.' WE THEN VACATED 8000' AND STARTED COMPLETED OUR VIS APCH/LNDG. WE NEVER RECEIVED A CLRNC FROM SLC FOR THE (VIS APCH). HOWEVER, WE DID NOT VACATE 8000' UNTIL CLRED TO LAND BY GILLETTE TWR. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 158149. I CONTACTED SHERIDAN RADIO AND NOTIFIED THE OPERATOR THAT I COULD NOT CONTACT SLC. HE SAID JUST KEEP TRYING THERE IS AN RCO INOPERATIVE IN THE AREA.

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.