Narrative:

During what should have been a normal descent phase of flight approaching our destination, we were forced to remain at altitude (above FL200) for an extended period due to numerous failed attempts to effect a frequency handoff (center). When communication with the proper controller was finally established, we were given the anticipated 'slam dunk.' we were cleared to descend to 9000 ft until established on the approach. Breaking out at 10000 ft MSL we attempted to cancel IFR and continued our descent in VFR conditions. However, it turned out that due to mountainous terrain, ATC was not receiving our xmissions. Therefore, having descended below 9000 ft MSL, if only slightly, prior to being established may have caused some concern with ATC since they actually may not have received our cancellation. Moments later, we were able to get another aircraft to relay our cancellation which was followed up on the ground with a phone call to FSS. Although legal crew rest had been achieved, crew fatigue due to 'backside of the clock' operating was a factor in this event. Supplemental information from acn 233164: as we got closer to the airport we realized that we would have to extend to lose altitude then recapture the STAR course. Approach cleared us for this. We were cleared to descend from this point when we intercepted the course. Inadvertently a descent was made, but the correction was not taken out, resulting in a course deviation. Bases were reported at 3000-4000 ft. We did not make contact with the airport till about 2000 ft AGL.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CPT LGT DSNDS BELOW ASSIGNED ALT AND STRAYS OFF COURSE WHILE STRUGGLING WITH COM PROBS. RADIO COM PROB PROC.

Narrative: DURING WHAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN A NORMAL DSCNT PHASE OF FLT APCHING OUR DEST, WE WERE FORCED TO REMAIN AT ALT (ABOVE FL200) FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD DUE TO NUMEROUS FAILED ATTEMPTS TO EFFECT A FREQ HDOF (CTR). WHEN COM WITH THE PROPER CTLR WAS FINALLY ESTABLISHED, WE WERE GIVEN THE ANTICIPATED 'SLAM DUNK.' WE WERE CLRED TO DSND TO 9000 FT UNTIL ESTABLISHED ON THE APCH. BREAKING OUT AT 10000 FT MSL WE ATTEMPTED TO CANCEL IFR AND CONTINUED OUR DSCNT IN VFR CONDITIONS. HOWEVER, IT TURNED OUT THAT DUE TO MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN, ATC WAS NOT RECEIVING OUR XMISSIONS. THEREFORE, HAVING DSNDED BELOW 9000 FT MSL, IF ONLY SLIGHTLY, PRIOR TO BEING ESTABLISHED MAY HAVE CAUSED SOME CONCERN WITH ATC SINCE THEY ACTUALLY MAY NOT HAVE RECEIVED OUR CANCELLATION. MOMENTS LATER, WE WERE ABLE TO GET ANOTHER ACFT TO RELAY OUR CANCELLATION WHICH WAS FOLLOWED UP ON THE GND WITH A PHONE CALL TO FSS. ALTHOUGH LEGAL CREW REST HAD BEEN ACHIEVED, CREW FATIGUE DUE TO 'BACKSIDE OF THE CLOCK' OPERATING WAS A FACTOR IN THIS EVENT. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 233164: AS WE GOT CLOSER TO THE ARPT WE REALIZED THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO EXTEND TO LOSE ALT THEN RECAPTURE THE STAR COURSE. APCH CLRED US FOR THIS. WE WERE CLRED TO DSND FROM THIS POINT WHEN WE INTERCEPTED THE COURSE. INADVERTENTLY A DSCNT WAS MADE, BUT THE CORRECTION WAS NOT TAKEN OUT, RESULTING IN A COURSE DEV. BASES WERE RPTED AT 3000-4000 FT. WE DID NOT MAKE CONTACT WITH THE ARPT TILL ABOUT 2000 FT AGL.

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.