Narrative:

Atx X being vectored to the localizer for ILS 2 at mkl by ZME. Several mi from the OM center cleared us for the approach and told us to contact jackson radio on 123.6. I got no response from jackson radio, after numerous attempts, I stopped trying several mi out due to the workload of the approach in IMC. Mkl was reporting 500 ft overcast. After landing and clearing the runway, a voice on 123.6 told us to contact ground control. He said that mkl had an operating tower which had recently been opened. The tower controller said ZME frequently gives the wrong (jackson radio) frequency to aircraft. This situation could have been avoided if ZME provided the correct frequency. Our current government approach plates, which were effective on the date of our flight, also listed no frequency for a tower or ground control. Also, if the tower controller was able to talk with us on 123.6 after landing, why were they not monitoring that frequency? With ZME's oversights it would have been a much safer transition from jackson radio to an operating control tower if the tower monitored 123.6 for some specific time period until center, FSS, and the approach plates had the correct information. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: center procedures specialist stated mkl is a contract tower and all controllers were briefed about the tower's hours of operation. Mkl FSS specialist stated proper NOTAMS were on file and if the pilot properly preflight briefed and checked NOTAMS he would have been informed about the new tower and the correct frequencys. Specialist also stated frequency 123.6 was taken OTS and was notamed when the tower was opened.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ATX X LANDED WITHOUT CLRNC AFTER BEING CHANGED TO WRONG FREQ BY CTLR.

Narrative: ATX X BEING VECTORED TO THE LOC FOR ILS 2 AT MKL BY ZME. SEVERAL MI FROM THE OM CTR CLRED US FOR THE APCH AND TOLD US TO CONTACT JACKSON RADIO ON 123.6. I GOT NO RESPONSE FROM JACKSON RADIO, AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS, I STOPPED TRYING SEVERAL MI OUT DUE TO THE WORKLOAD OF THE APCH IN IMC. MKL WAS RPTING 500 FT OVCST. AFTER LNDG AND CLRING THE RWY, A VOICE ON 123.6 TOLD US TO CONTACT GND CTL. HE SAID THAT MKL HAD AN OPERATING TWR WHICH HAD RECENTLY BEEN OPENED. THE TWR CTLR SAID ZME FREQUENTLY GIVES THE WRONG (JACKSON RADIO) FREQ TO ACFT. THIS SIT COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED IF ZME PROVIDED THE CORRECT FREQ. OUR CURRENT GOV APCH PLATES, WHICH WERE EFFECTIVE ON THE DATE OF OUR FLT, ALSO LISTED NO FREQ FOR A TWR OR GND CTL. ALSO, IF THE TWR CTLR WAS ABLE TO TALK WITH US ON 123.6 AFTER LNDG, WHY WERE THEY NOT MONITORING THAT FREQ? WITH ZME'S OVERSIGHTS IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A MUCH SAFER TRANSITION FROM JACKSON RADIO TO AN OPERATING CTL TWR IF THE TWR MONITORED 123.6 FOR SOME SPECIFIC TIME PERIOD UNTIL CTR, FSS, AND THE APCH PLATES HAD THE CORRECT INFO. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: CTR PROCS SPECIALIST STATED MKL IS A CONTRACT TWR AND ALL CTLRS WERE BRIEFED ABOUT THE TWR'S HRS OF OP. MKL FSS SPECIALIST STATED PROPER NOTAMS WERE ON FILE AND IF THE PLT PROPERLY PREFLT BRIEFED AND CHKED NOTAMS HE WOULD HAVE BEEN INFORMED ABOUT THE NEW TWR AND THE CORRECT FREQS. SPECIALIST ALSO STATED FREQ 123.6 WAS TAKEN OTS AND WAS NOTAMED WHEN THE TWR WAS OPENED.

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.