The captain of an air carrier large transport is very contrite after landing without clearance.

Attributes
ACN	262888
Time
Date	199402
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : ord
State Reference	IL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2100 msl bound upper : 2100
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : ord tower : ord
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B727 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : approach landing other
Route In Use	approach : visual approach : straight in
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B747 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	descent : approach landing other
Route In Use	approach : straight in
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : commercial pilot : atp pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 8000 flight time type : 200
ASRS Report	262888
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	incursion : landing without clearance non adherence : far non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Cleared by chicago approach for visual to runway 27R at ord, #2 5- 6 mi behind 747. We were taking precautions behind the heavy jet to avoid wake turbulence. Approach did not specify frequency and position to call tower as is normally done on most approachs. However, we were chicago based crew and familiar with the routine. At the marker, I announced 'marker' gear down, final checklist. So started final checklist as we were configuring the flaps and establishing the GS. The 747 was close to exiting and was not considered a factor any more. At 1000 ft check, I responded 'cleared to land runway 27R.' did not realize that I hadn't heard 'clear to land' from tower. Everything normal and routine until landing rollout when I realized that we were still on approach control frequency. The first officer hadn't called the tower at the marker and neither I or the so caught it. Exiting the runway, I directed first officer to contact ground for taxi to gate. Ground responded with 'no comment' on landing clearance problems and we taxied to gate. We were apparently 'cleared to land' on tower frequency, but never responded (at least I assume that?) this was a first for me in any aircraft. The check/response should have caught this in the cockpit. The so initiating the list, as was called for, exactly at the marker and the confign changes contributed, as well as the total VFR mindset in place. First officer did not have marker switch on, which might have triggered a call.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: THE CAPT OF AN ACR LGT IS VERY CONTRITE AFTER LNDG WITHOUT CLRNC.

Narrative: CLRED BY CHICAGO APCH FOR VISUAL TO RWY 27R AT ORD, #2 5- 6 MI BEHIND 747. WE WERE TAKING PRECAUTIONS BEHIND THE HVY JET TO AVOID WAKE TURB. APCH DID NOT SPECIFY FREQ AND POS TO CALL TWR AS IS NORMALLY DONE ON MOST APCHS. HOWEVER, WE WERE CHICAGO BASED CREW AND FAMILIAR WITH THE ROUTINE. AT THE MARKER, I ANNOUNCED 'MARKER' GEAR DOWN, FINAL CHKLIST. SO STARTED FINAL CHKLIST AS WE WERE CONFIGURING THE FLAPS AND ESTABLISHING THE GS. THE 747 WAS CLOSE TO EXITING AND WAS NOT CONSIDERED A FACTOR ANY MORE. AT 1000 FT CHK, I RESPONDED 'CLRED TO LAND RWY 27R.' DID NOT REALIZE THAT I HADN'T HEARD 'CLR TO LAND' FROM TWR. EVERYTHING NORMAL AND ROUTINE UNTIL LNDG ROLLOUT WHEN I REALIZED THAT WE WERE STILL ON APCH CTL FREQ. THE FO HADN'T CALLED THE TWR AT THE MARKER AND NEITHER I OR THE SO CAUGHT IT. EXITING THE RWY, I DIRECTED FO TO CONTACT GND FOR TAXI TO GATE. GND RESPONDED WITH 'NO COMMENT' ON LNDG CLRNC PROBS AND WE TAXIED TO GATE. WE WERE APPARENTLY 'CLRED TO LAND' ON TWR FREQ, BUT NEVER RESPONDED (AT LEAST I ASSUME THAT?) THIS WAS A FIRST FOR ME IN ANY ACFT. THE CHK/RESPONSE SHOULD HAVE CAUGHT THIS IN THE COCKPIT. THE SO INITIATING THE LIST, AS WAS CALLED FOR, EXACTLY AT THE MARKER AND THE CONFIGN CHANGES CONTRIBUTED, AS WELL AS THE TOTAL VFR MINDSET IN PLACE. FO DID NOT HAVE MARKER SWITCH ON, WHICH MIGHT HAVE TRIGGERED A CALL.

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.