Narrative:

During cruise at 9000 ft, we received clearance to descend to 6000 ft and expect VOR/DME runway 36L. The captain started descent to 6000 ft and called for approach checklist. Checklist was completed and first officer reviewing approach plate. When the first officer looked up, the captain had descended through the assigned altitude of 6000 ft. The captain recovered at 5700 ft and returned back to 6000 ft. ATC asked if we started our descent to 1600 ft yet. (There was communication but it was blocked by other aircraft.) we never received clearance to descend. ATC advised us to expedite our descent and to expect vector across final approach course runway 36L for sequence. Being east of course ATC now told us to turn left to heading 355 degrees cleared 'approach.' when aircraft broke out in VFR conditions at 3000 ft, we were lined up for runway 35 (8-10 NM from airport) slightly to the right of course on VOR/DME runway 36L. ATC told us to contact tower on 118.45 which was assigned frequency for that runway (frequency for runway 36L is 124.3). Crew was never advised about approach and runway change. (There were several blockages of communication at the time of approach.) first officer asked the captain if he knew anything about approach and runway change (maybe I missed it). He didn't know anything either! The rest of the approach and landing was uneventful. ATC training was in progress at orlando international airport during approach! Chain of events: 1) crew was flying 2- day trip, first day with 9 flight segments with minimum rest in between day 1 and day 2. 2) crew flying non air- conditioned aircraft during day 1. Average temperature plus 95 degrees F. 3) radio communication block on several occasions. ATC never made sure aircraft received clearance on several occasions. 4) ATC training was in progress during arrival into orlando. 5) distraction in cockpit during approach.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: THE FLC DSNDED THROUGH THE ASSIGNED ALT AND USED THE VOR RWY 36L WHEN THE CTLR INTENDED THE FLT USE THE ILS RWY 35.

Narrative: DURING CRUISE AT 9000 FT, WE RECEIVED CLRNC TO DSND TO 6000 FT AND EXPECT VOR/DME RWY 36L. THE CAPT STARTED DSCNT TO 6000 FT AND CALLED FOR APCH CHKLIST. CHKLIST WAS COMPLETED AND FO REVIEWING APCH PLATE. WHEN THE FO LOOKED UP, THE CAPT HAD DSNDED THROUGH THE ASSIGNED ALT OF 6000 FT. THE CAPT RECOVERED AT 5700 FT AND RETURNED BACK TO 6000 FT. ATC ASKED IF WE STARTED OUR DSCNT TO 1600 FT YET. (THERE WAS COM BUT IT WAS BLOCKED BY OTHER ACFT.) WE NEVER RECEIVED CLRNC TO DSND. ATC ADVISED US TO EXPEDITE OUR DSCNT AND TO EXPECT VECTOR ACROSS FINAL APCH COURSE RWY 36L FOR SEQUENCE. BEING E OF COURSE ATC NOW TOLD US TO TURN L TO HDG 355 DEGS CLRED 'APCH.' WHEN ACFT BROKE OUT IN VFR CONDITIONS AT 3000 FT, WE WERE LINED UP FOR RWY 35 (8-10 NM FROM ARPT) SLIGHTLY TO THE R OF COURSE ON VOR/DME RWY 36L. ATC TOLD US TO CONTACT TWR ON 118.45 WHICH WAS ASSIGNED FREQ FOR THAT RWY (FREQ FOR RWY 36L IS 124.3). CREW WAS NEVER ADVISED ABOUT APCH AND RWY CHANGE. (THERE WERE SEVERAL BLOCKAGES OF COM AT THE TIME OF APCH.) FO ASKED THE CAPT IF HE KNEW ANYTHING ABOUT APCH AND RWY CHANGE (MAYBE I MISSED IT). HE DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING EITHER! THE REST OF THE APCH AND LNDG WAS UNEVENTFUL. ATC TRAINING WAS IN PROGRESS AT ORLANDO INTL ARPT DURING APCH! CHAIN OF EVENTS: 1) CREW WAS FLYING 2- DAY TRIP, FIRST DAY WITH 9 FLT SEGMENTS WITH MINIMUM REST IN BTWN DAY 1 AND DAY 2. 2) CREW FLYING NON AIR- CONDITIONED ACFT DURING DAY 1. AVERAGE TEMP PLUS 95 DEGS F. 3) RADIO COM BLOCK ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. ATC NEVER MADE SURE ACFT RECEIVED CLRNC ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. 4) ATC TRAINING WAS IN PROGRESS DURING ARR INTO ORLANDO. 5) DISTR IN COCKPIT DURING APCH.

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.