Unable to contact air carrier ground radio prior to approach for traffic advisories and WX report.

Attributes
ACN	199225
Time
Date	199201
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : psp
State Reference	CA
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	descent : approach landing other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 75 flight time total : 9000 flight time type : 1200
ASRS Report	199225
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 90 flight time total : 7000 flight time type : 2200
ASRS Report	198636
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : exited adverse environment
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Airport
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

The tower had closed at XA00. There was a solid overcast at psp. We were instructed to hold at thermal VOR. I had been attempting to contact air carrier B operations in psp to get current WX. After trying for 15 mins I contacted air carrier a dispatch through commercial communication. The dispatcher attempted phoning air carrier B operations psp and got no response. By this time it was XA40 and ATC had cleared us for the approach. An aircraft before us on the approach had reported 5000 ft ceiling and 15 mi visibility. The captain decided that it would be safer to land at psp than to divert to an alternate due to the fact that we were beginning to use our reserve fuel.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: UNABLE TO CONTACT ACR GND RADIO PRIOR TO APCH FOR TFC ADVISORIES AND WX RPT.

Narrative: THE TWR HAD CLOSED AT XA00. THERE WAS A SOLID OVCST AT PSP. WE WERE INSTRUCTED TO HOLD AT THERMAL VOR. I HAD BEEN ATTEMPTING TO CONTACT ACR B OPS IN PSP TO GET CURRENT WX. AFTER TRYING FOR 15 MINS I CONTACTED ACR A DISPATCH THROUGH COMMERCIAL COM. THE DISPATCHER ATTEMPTED PHONING ACR B OPS PSP AND GOT NO RESPONSE. BY THIS TIME IT WAS XA40 AND ATC HAD CLRED US FOR THE APCH. AN ACFT BEFORE US ON THE APCH HAD RPTED 5000 FT CEILING AND 15 MI VISIBILITY. THE CAPT DECIDED THAT IT WOULD BE SAFER TO LAND AT PSP THAN TO DIVERT TO AN ALTERNATE DUE TO THE FACT THAT WE WERE BEGINNING TO USE OUR RESERVE FUEL.

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.