Small transport pilot loses communication with approach controller. Loss of radio contact.

Attributes
ACN	158920
Time
Date	199009
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : n90 airport : frg
State Reference	NY
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2000 msl bound upper : 2000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Marginal
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : n90
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Transport
Flight Phase	cruise other cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 25 flight time total : 1900 flight time type : 300
ASRS Report	158920
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe non adherence : clearance non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : overcame equipment problem flight crew : became reoriented
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

On 9/sat/90, I was on an IFR flight plan to my home airport, republic at farmingdale, ny. I had a hard time trying to identify the ILS at republic, but I was finally able to get an identify. We then flew for what seemed like a long time west/O hearing any xmissions from the controller, especially for the ny area. We went through the ILS east to west, which is normal, but still did not hear any xmissions. I thought the traffic must be light because of the jewish holiday of yom kippur. Finally after I realized that it could not be that light, I reached over to see if the vol on the radio was turned down and sure enough it was. I called the controller and reported in. He had been trying to contact us. I must have turned the vol down when I idented the ILS. This is not something I usually do, but I remember I was having a hard time hearing the identify. I should have acted faster when I did not hear any xmissions from the controller and should not have justified it in my mind by saying it must be because of a holiday. When there is any doubt act and do not try to think of reasons for the unusual.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMT PLT LOSES COM WITH APCH CTLR. LOSS OF RADIO CONTACT.

Narrative: ON 9/SAT/90, I WAS ON AN IFR FLT PLAN TO MY HOME ARPT, REPUBLIC AT FARMINGDALE, NY. I HAD A HARD TIME TRYING TO IDENT THE ILS AT REPUBLIC, BUT I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO GET AN IDENT. WE THEN FLEW FOR WHAT SEEMED LIKE A LONG TIME W/O HEARING ANY XMISSIONS FROM THE CTLR, ESPECIALLY FOR THE NY AREA. WE WENT THROUGH THE ILS E TO W, WHICH IS NORMAL, BUT STILL DID NOT HEAR ANY XMISSIONS. I THOUGHT THE TFC MUST BE LIGHT BECAUSE OF THE JEWISH HOLIDAY OF YOM KIPPUR. FINALLY AFTER I REALIZED THAT IT COULD NOT BE THAT LIGHT, I REACHED OVER TO SEE IF THE VOL ON THE RADIO WAS TURNED DOWN AND SURE ENOUGH IT WAS. I CALLED THE CTLR AND RPTED IN. HE HAD BEEN TRYING TO CONTACT US. I MUST HAVE TURNED THE VOL DOWN WHEN I IDENTED THE ILS. THIS IS NOT SOMETHING I USUALLY DO, BUT I REMEMBER I WAS HAVING A HARD TIME HEARING THE IDENT. I SHOULD HAVE ACTED FASTER WHEN I DID NOT HEAR ANY XMISSIONS FROM THE CTLR AND SHOULD NOT HAVE JUSTIFIED IT IN MY MIND BY SAYING IT MUST BE BECAUSE OF A HOLIDAY. WHEN THERE IS ANY DOUBT ACT AND DO NOT TRY TO THINK OF REASONS FOR THE UNUSUAL.

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.