Small transport made approach and landing without clearance. Pilot deviation.

Attributes
ACN	252271
Time
Date	199309
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : dca
State Reference	DC
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3000 msl bound upper : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : dca tower : dca tracon : oak
Operator	other
Make Model Name	Small Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turboprop Eng
Flight Phase	descent : approach landing other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government other
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 50 flight time total : 7000 flight time type : 150
ASRS Report	252271
Person 2
Affiliation	government other
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 75 flight time total : 5000 flight time type : 2000
ASRS Report	252018
Events
Anomaly	incursion : landing without clearance non adherence : published procedure non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

During arrival at dca we found so much congestion on the radio of both approach and tower that we were unable to confirm clearance for the approach and landing. In the effort of safety we continued the approach and landing. Radio calls to other aircraft confirmed our clearance, however, we do not recall hearing 'cleared' in either clearance. Radio traffic did not allow us time to confirm. Supplemental information from acn 252018: ATC was unusually busy at dca, when on the VOR/DME approach we were told to keep up speed to FAF and contact tower. I asked copilot to verify that we were cleared for the approach, but could not get on the frequency. During landing I asked copilot to verify that we were cleared to land, and again, could not get on the frequency. In both cases it was clear that we were expected to.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMT MADE APCH AND LNDG WITHOUT CLRNC. PLTDEV.

Narrative: DURING ARR AT DCA WE FOUND SO MUCH CONGESTION ON THE RADIO OF BOTH APCH AND TWR THAT WE WERE UNABLE TO CONFIRM CLRNC FOR THE APCH AND LNDG. IN THE EFFORT OF SAFETY WE CONTINUED THE APCH AND LNDG. RADIO CALLS TO OTHER ACFT CONFIRMED OUR CLRNC, HOWEVER, WE DO NOT RECALL HEARING 'CLRED' IN EITHER CLRNC. RADIO TFC DID NOT ALLOW US TIME TO CONFIRM. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 252018: ATC WAS UNUSUALLY BUSY AT DCA, WHEN ON THE VOR/DME APCH WE WERE TOLD TO KEEP UP SPD TO FAF AND CONTACT TWR. I ASKED COPLT TO VERIFY THAT WE WERE CLRED FOR THE APCH, BUT COULD NOT GET ON THE FREQ. DURING LNDG I ASKED COPLT TO VERIFY THAT WE WERE CLRED TO LAND, AND AGAIN, COULD NOT GET ON THE FREQ. IN BOTH CASES IT WAS CLR THAT WE WERE EXPECTED TO.

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.