Narrative:

Original clearance was to fly to bilee intersection. ATC vectored us off arwy for traffic. We were then cleared to turn left to a heading of 100 degrees and to descend to 15000', which we read back and accomplished. Captain (PNF) then switched off ATC to get ATIS and to brief cabin crew on possible turn on the approach. After 4-5 mins established on the 100 degree heading at 15000', we were about to pass through the iah 305 degree right at about 40-45 NM. This radial comprises the final portion of the cugar 4 arrival. ZHU called up and asked if we would be able to make the 305 degree right 035 fix at 10000', 250 KTS, crossing restriction at hoagi, which surprised us since we hadn't been cleared to intercept and execute the arrival. We replied that we couldn't lost 5000' in 5 mi and were subsequently vectored for a right 360 degree descending turn to reintercept the 305 degree right. Controller stated that we had been issued a clearance, subsequent to our first vector, to intercept the STAR, comply with restrictions, etc. I replied (PF) that we hadn't heard or read it back. Controller said something like, 'I gave it to you; I guess you missed it.' I guess so. Causal factors: controller extremely busy, issuing multiple clrncs rapid fire to many aircraft. Sizeable percentage of aircraft (major carriers included) were not using their full call signs or reading back clrncs fully. Controller assumed that we had gotten the clearance. We weren't aware enough (PNF our of loop, other duties) to realize that the controller may have set us up for an intercept. We should have questioned him. Stress proper radio discipline! Call sings in high stress environments!

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR MLG ALT DEVIATION UNDERSHOT AND TRACK HEADING DEVIATION.

Narrative: ORIGINAL CLRNC WAS TO FLY TO BILEE INTXN. ATC VECTORED US OFF ARWY FOR TFC. WE WERE THEN CLRED TO TURN LEFT TO A HDG OF 100 DEGS AND TO DSND TO 15000', WHICH WE READ BACK AND ACCOMPLISHED. CAPT (PNF) THEN SWITCHED OFF ATC TO GET ATIS AND TO BRIEF CABIN CREW ON POSSIBLE TURN ON THE APCH. AFTER 4-5 MINS ESTABLISHED ON THE 100 DEG HDG AT 15000', WE WERE ABOUT TO PASS THROUGH THE IAH 305 DEG R AT ABOUT 40-45 NM. THIS RADIAL COMPRISES THE FINAL PORTION OF THE CUGAR 4 ARR. ZHU CALLED UP AND ASKED IF WE WOULD BE ABLE TO MAKE THE 305 DEG R 035 FIX AT 10000', 250 KTS, XING RESTRICTION AT HOAGI, WHICH SURPRISED US SINCE WE HADN'T BEEN CLRED TO INTERCEPT AND EXECUTE THE ARR. WE REPLIED THAT WE COULDN'T LOST 5000' IN 5 MI AND WERE SUBSEQUENTLY VECTORED FOR A RIGHT 360 DEG DSNDING TURN TO REINTERCEPT THE 305 DEG R. CTLR STATED THAT WE HAD BEEN ISSUED A CLRNC, SUBSEQUENT TO OUR FIRST VECTOR, TO INTERCEPT THE STAR, COMPLY WITH RESTRICTIONS, ETC. I REPLIED (PF) THAT WE HADN'T HEARD OR READ IT BACK. CTLR SAID SOMETHING LIKE, 'I GAVE IT TO YOU; I GUESS YOU MISSED IT.' I GUESS SO. CAUSAL FACTORS: CTLR EXTREMELY BUSY, ISSUING MULTIPLE CLRNCS RAPID FIRE TO MANY ACFT. SIZEABLE PERCENTAGE OF ACFT (MAJOR CARRIERS INCLUDED) WERE NOT USING THEIR FULL CALL SIGNS OR READING BACK CLRNCS FULLY. CTLR ASSUMED THAT WE HAD GOTTEN THE CLRNC. WE WEREN'T AWARE ENOUGH (PNF OUR OF LOOP, OTHER DUTIES) TO REALIZE THAT THE CTLR MAY HAVE SET US UP FOR AN INTERCEPT. WE SHOULD HAVE QUESTIONED HIM. STRESS PROPER RADIO DISCIPLINE! CALL SINGS IN HIGH STRESS ENVIRONMENTS!

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.