Air carrier given a 360 degree turn on approach due not hearing receiving approach clearance.

Attributes
ACN	225831
Time
Date	199211
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : pit
State Reference	PA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 7000 msl bound upper : 7000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : pit tower : anc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 7000 flight time type : 2500
ASRS Report	225831
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	non adherence other other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

Had just been handed off to final approach controller for ILS 32 after having been assigned 11000 ft MSL at 320 KIAS. Final controller was busy. After check-in, he assigned a heading and descent to 9000 ft MSL. Shortly thereafter he cleared us to 7000 ft and cleared us for the ILS 32 approach. Shortly thereafter, he gave us a vector off course (reason not given, possibly a 'widening out' vector because we had been cleared for approach from well above GS). Shortly thereafter, we were given another vector, told to intercept the localizer and maintain 7000 ft. Here is where problem arose. No one (including FAA inspector giving us a check ride) heard the approach clearance. We leveled at 7000 ft on the localizer, still above the GS, at which time I asked if we'd been cleared for the approach. Neither captain nor FAA inspector recalled having been cleared for the approach, and captain couldn't get a word in edgewise because radio traffic was jammed. Finally controller said 'air carrier are you gonna make it?' we answered negative, at which time we were assigned 5000 ft MSL, given a right 360 degree turn, and reclred for the approach.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR GIVEN A 360 DEG TURN ON APCH DUE NOT HEARING RECEIVING APCH CLRNC.

Narrative: HAD JUST BEEN HANDED OFF TO FINAL APCH CTLR FOR ILS 32 AFTER HAVING BEEN ASSIGNED 11000 FT MSL AT 320 KIAS. FINAL CTLR WAS BUSY. AFTER CHK-IN, HE ASSIGNED A HDG AND DSCNT TO 9000 FT MSL. SHORTLY THEREAFTER HE CLRED US TO 7000 FT AND CLRED US FOR THE ILS 32 APCH. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, HE GAVE US A VECTOR OFF COURSE (REASON NOT GIVEN, POSSIBLY A 'WIDENING OUT' VECTOR BECAUSE WE HAD BEEN CLRED FOR APCH FROM WELL ABOVE GS). SHORTLY THEREAFTER, WE WERE GIVEN ANOTHER VECTOR, TOLD TO INTERCEPT THE LOC AND MAINTAIN 7000 FT. HERE IS WHERE PROBLEM AROSE. NO ONE (INCLUDING FAA INSPECTOR GIVING US A CHK RIDE) HEARD THE APCH CLRNC. WE LEVELED AT 7000 FT ON THE LOC, STILL ABOVE THE GS, AT WHICH TIME I ASKED IF WE'D BEEN CLRED FOR THE APCH. NEITHER CAPT NOR FAA INSPECTOR RECALLED HAVING BEEN CLRED FOR THE APCH, AND CAPT COULDN'T GET A WORD IN EDGEWISE BECAUSE RADIO TFC WAS JAMMED. FINALLY CTLR SAID 'ACR ARE YOU GONNA MAKE IT?' WE ANSWERED NEGATIVE, AT WHICH TIME WE WERE ASSIGNED 5000 FT MSL, GIVEN A R 360 DEG TURN, AND RECLRED FOR THE APCH.

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.