Lost communication with center.

Attributes
ACN	183703
Time
Date	199107
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : hnn
State Reference	WV
Altitude	msl bound lower : 35000 msl bound upper : 35000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zid
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute airway : zid
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 80 flight time total : 14000
ASRS Report	183703
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

While working ind center, after passing louisville VOR on a flight from iah-pit, we went out of radio range for the frequency we were on. We did not hear or acknowledge any frequency change. Then as transmissions became garbled and we were due to begin descent we tried to raise ind center. We could not, we then tried several frequencys on the hi altitude chart. Each one sent us to a new frequency. After about 3 changes and approximately 5 mins after this all began, we got a frequency for center. We heard another company aircraft say he could not reach our flight # on the radio and we then got a message via ACARS to contact center on (132.17)? I do not know how long we were not in communication. We were then late for the normal crossing restrictions and had to get vectors to comply. Part of the confusion could have been the company flight. It was different than the ATC flight #. We may not have responded to a frequency change or someone else took it. Anyway, no conflict resulted but I will be more suspicious whenever company # and ATC # are different and when an inordinate time period passes without any communication to our aircraft.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: LOST COM WITH CENTER.

Narrative: WHILE WORKING IND CENTER, AFTER PASSING LOUISVILLE VOR ON A FLT FROM IAH-PIT, WE WENT OUT OF RADIO RANGE FOR THE FREQ WE WERE ON. WE DID NOT HEAR OR ACKNOWLEDGE ANY FREQ CHANGE. THEN AS TRANSMISSIONS BECAME GARBLED AND WE WERE DUE TO BEGIN DSCNT WE TRIED TO RAISE IND CENTER. WE COULD NOT, WE THEN TRIED SEVERAL FREQS ON THE HI ALT CHART. EACH ONE SENT US TO A NEW FREQ. AFTER ABOUT 3 CHANGES AND APPROX 5 MINS AFTER THIS ALL BEGAN, WE GOT A FREQ FOR CENTER. WE HEARD ANOTHER COMPANY ACFT SAY HE COULD NOT REACH OUR FLT # ON THE RADIO AND WE THEN GOT A MESSAGE VIA ACARS TO CONTACT CENTER ON (132.17)? I DO NOT KNOW HOW LONG WE WERE NOT IN COM. WE WERE THEN LATE FOR THE NORMAL XING RESTRICTIONS AND HAD TO GET VECTORS TO COMPLY. PART OF THE CONFUSION COULD HAVE BEEN THE COMPANY FLT. IT WAS DIFFERENT THAN THE ATC FLT #. WE MAY NOT HAVE RESPONDED TO A FREQ CHANGE OR SOMEONE ELSE TOOK IT. ANYWAY, NO CONFLICT RESULTED BUT I WILL BE MORE SUSPICIOUS WHENEVER COMPANY # AND ATC # ARE DIFFERENT AND WHEN AN INORDINATE TIME PERIOD PASSES WITHOUT ANY COM TO OUR ACFT.

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.