Air carrier medium large transport frequency change wrong.

Attributes
ACN	182886
Time
Date	199107
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : den
State Reference	CO
Altitude	msl bound lower : 37000 msl bound upper : 37000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdv
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors enroute airway : zdv
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : cfi pilot : atp pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 15900 flight time type : 4800
ASRS Report	182886
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
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Approximately 110 NM southwest of den with a radar vector to the den 213 degree right at 37000', the controller changed us to his frequency of 118.85. I responded and changed to 118.85 and called him. I understood him to respond, 'roger with our flight #.' the captain was checking in at the same time with the company. Approximately 20 mi later we needed to start the descent. The traffic had been light all day. We called for our descent and could not get a response. After trying a couple of times the captain went back to the previous frequency and reestablished contact. Center had already contacted the company and they called through commercial radio after we had reestablished contact with the center. In retrospect, I heard the end of the company transmission at the time I called the center--'roger,' with our flight #--and was sure I made contact during the changeover. I had dialed in what I heard and read back, 118.85. The correct frequency was 119.85 for the change. Maybe I was given an incorrect frequency or misunderstood. Then when I heard our flight # from the captain's conversation with the company, I was sure I had checked in when I had not.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR MLG FREQ CHANGE WRONG.

Narrative: APPROX 110 NM SW OF DEN WITH A RADAR VECTOR TO THE DEN 213 DEG R AT 37000', THE CTLR CHANGED US TO HIS FREQ OF 118.85. I RESPONDED AND CHANGED TO 118.85 AND CALLED HIM. I UNDERSTOOD HIM TO RESPOND, 'ROGER WITH OUR FLT #.' THE CAPT WAS CHKING IN AT THE SAME TIME WITH THE COMPANY. APPROX 20 MI LATER WE NEEDED TO START THE DSNT. THE TFC HAD BEEN LIGHT ALL DAY. WE CALLED FOR OUR DSNT AND COULD NOT GET A RESPONSE. AFTER TRYING A COUPLE OF TIMES THE CAPT WENT BACK TO THE PREVIOUS FREQ AND REESTABLISHED CONTACT. CENTER HAD ALREADY CONTACTED THE COMPANY AND THEY CALLED THROUGH COMMERCIAL RADIO AFTER WE HAD REESTABLISHED CONTACT WITH THE CENTER. IN RETROSPECT, I HEARD THE END OF THE COMPANY XMISSION AT THE TIME I CALLED THE CENTER--'ROGER,' WITH OUR FLT #--AND WAS SURE I MADE CONTACT DURING THE CHANGEOVER. I HAD DIALED IN WHAT I HEARD AND READ BACK, 118.85. THE CORRECT FREQ WAS 119.85 FOR THE CHANGE. MAYBE I WAS GIVEN AN INCORRECT FREQ OR MISUNDERSTOOD. THEN WHEN I HEARD OUR FLT # FROM THE CAPT'S CONVERSATION WITH THE COMPANY, I WAS SURE I HAD CHKED IN WHEN I HAD NOT.

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.