Narrative:

While descending to 7000 ft we were handed off to a new york controller. The PNF called new york several (2-3) times with no acknowledgement. Finally after about 4 times new york controller (who was quite busy) told us to descend and maintain 4000 ft. The PNF radioed ATC and we complied. We were then given a 040 degree heading and the PNF responded over the radio several times with no ATC acknowledgement. When we were within approximately 15 mi of mmu, PNF radioed new york ATC (3-4 times) if we could have a lower altitude. Finally new york replied to us, 'immediately expedite to and maintain 2000 ft, traffic 1 O'clock less than a mi at 4000 ft.' while taking immediate action, PNF acknowledged ATC. Before reaching 2000 ft, new york ATC told us to advise mmu in sight. We have mmu in sight after transmitting 2-3 times. ATC acknowledged us, handed us off to tower and we landed without incident. In my opinion the event was caused by a heavy workload on ATC. When a controller does not acknowledge a radio call after 2 or so times, how do we know that our radios are working. For your information we never saw any traffic and our radios were working fine all day. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: the captain said that the approach controller seemed distraction throughout their contact with him. After landing the approach controller seemed distracted throughout their contact with him. After landing the flight crew departed again, but they did not talk to the same controller. This flight crew operates in this area with their beech king air C90 often and this is the first encounter of this type that they have had.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: LTSS. APCH CTLR HAD 2 ACFT AT THE SAME ALT WITHIN 1 MI OF EACH OTHER NON VISUAL.

Narrative: WHILE DSNDING TO 7000 FT WE WERE HANDED OFF TO A NEW YORK CTLR. THE PNF CALLED NEW YORK SEVERAL (2-3) TIMES WITH NO ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. FINALLY AFTER ABOUT 4 TIMES NEW YORK CTLR (WHO WAS QUITE BUSY) TOLD US TO DSND AND MAINTAIN 4000 FT. THE PNF RADIOED ATC AND WE COMPLIED. WE WERE THEN GIVEN A 040 DEG HDG AND THE PNF RESPONDED OVER THE RADIO SEVERAL TIMES WITH NO ATC ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. WHEN WE WERE WITHIN APPROX 15 MI OF MMU, PNF RADIOED NEW YORK ATC (3-4 TIMES) IF WE COULD HAVE A LOWER ALT. FINALLY NEW YORK REPLIED TO US, 'IMMEDIATELY EXPEDITE TO AND MAINTAIN 2000 FT, TFC 1 O'CLOCK LESS THAN A MI AT 4000 FT.' WHILE TAKING IMMEDIATE ACTION, PNF ACKNOWLEDGED ATC. BEFORE REACHING 2000 FT, NEW YORK ATC TOLD US TO ADVISE MMU IN SIGHT. WE HAVE MMU IN SIGHT AFTER XMITTING 2-3 TIMES. ATC ACKNOWLEDGED US, HANDED US OFF TO TWR AND WE LANDED WITHOUT INCIDENT. IN MY OPINION THE EVENT WAS CAUSED BY A HVY WORKLOAD ON ATC. WHEN A CTLR DOES NOT ACKNOWLEDGE A RADIO CALL AFTER 2 OR SO TIMES, HOW DO WE KNOW THAT OUR RADIOS ARE WORKING. FOR YOUR INFO WE NEVER SAW ANY TFC AND OUR RADIOS WERE WORKING FINE ALL DAY. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE CAPT SAID THAT THE APCH CTLR SEEMED DISTR THROUGHOUT THEIR CONTACT WITH HIM. AFTER LNDG THE APCH CTLR SEEMED DISTRACTED THROUGHOUT THEIR CONTACT WITH HIM. AFTER LNDG THE FLC DEPARTED AGAIN, BUT THEY DID NOT TALK TO THE SAME CTLR. THIS FLC OPERATES IN THIS AREA WITH THEIR BEECH KING AIR C90 OFTEN AND THIS IS THE FIRST ENCOUNTER OF THIS TYPE THAT THEY HAVE HAD.

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.