A late frequency change caused a late descent.

Attributes
ACN	272620
Time
Date	199405
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : dpk
State Reference	NY
Altitude	msl bound lower : 21000 msl bound upper : 21000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	arrival other arrival star : star
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 263 flight time total : 5743 flight time type : 4209
ASRS Report	272620
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

We were level at 21000 ft as cleared by ZDC. While established on the bound 2 arrival around 7 mi (DME) from bound intersection. I asked the captain if we were given a clearance to cross bound at 17000 ft as we usually are cleared. The captain said no, and I asked him to check with center. When we contacted the center, center asked us our present position. After letting the controller know, he told us to switch to ZNY on 132.95. When we checked in with the center, he told us that he had been trying to contact us for the last 5 mins. We responded that ZDC just gave us the frequency change. Then the controller proceeded to give a descending clearance. (No restr) to 17000 ft, but by then we were already past bound.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A LATE FREQ CHANGE CAUSED A LATE DSCNT.

Narrative: WE WERE LEVEL AT 21000 FT AS CLRED BY ZDC. WHILE ESTABLISHED ON THE BOUND 2 ARR AROUND 7 MI (DME) FROM BOUND INTXN. I ASKED THE CAPT IF WE WERE GIVEN A CLRNC TO CROSS BOUND AT 17000 FT AS WE USUALLY ARE CLRED. THE CAPT SAID NO, AND I ASKED HIM TO CHK WITH CTR. WHEN WE CONTACTED THE CTR, CTR ASKED US OUR PRESENT POS. AFTER LETTING THE CTLR KNOW, HE TOLD US TO SWITCH TO ZNY ON 132.95. WHEN WE CHKED IN WITH THE CTR, HE TOLD US THAT HE HAD BEEN TRYING TO CONTACT US FOR THE LAST 5 MINS. WE RESPONDED THAT ZDC JUST GAVE US THE FREQ CHANGE. THEN THE CTLR PROCEEDED TO GIVE A DSNDING CLRNC. (NO RESTR) TO 17000 FT, BUT BY THEN WE WERE ALREADY PAST BOUND.

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.