Flight crew of a british jetstream 32 (BA32) failed to contact the tower at the marker as instructed...

Attributes
ACN	401430
Time
Date	199805
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : pit
State Reference	PA
Altitude	agl bound lower : 900 agl bound upper : 1000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Marginal
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : pit tower : pit
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Jetstream 32
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 400 flight time total : 3100 flight time type : 450
ASRS Report	401430
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

While established on the localizer for the ILS runway 32 at pit and 10 NM prior to the OM, pittsburgh approach informed us to contact the tower at the marker. As the PNF, I put the tower frequency in the standby mode in communication #1, and was going to switch it to the active mode when over the marker. Between the point approach gave us the instructions for the tower and the OM, I was busy configuring the aircraft, performing checklist items and callouts, and closely observing the PF's approach. Halfway between the OM and runway 32's threshold, pittsburgh approach reminded us to contact the tower, then immediately afterward told us to stay with him and that we were cleared to land on runway 32. After landing, I switched to the tower and the tower told us to contact ground when clear of the runway. The reminder to contact tower would not have been necessary if approach told us to contact tower at that point, not at a point in the distance. There are many things that occur during an approach that takes one's mind away from remembering to do something at a future point, especially if the item to perform is not a part of the normal routine.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLC OF A BRITISH JETSTREAM 32 (BA32) FAILED TO CONTACT THE TWR AT THE MARKER AS INSTRUCTED BY APCH CTL RESULTING IN APCH INTERVENTION AFTER THE OM TO INFORM THEM THAT THEY HAD NOT, AND THAT THEY WOULD THEN DO IT FOR THEM.

Narrative: WHILE ESTABLISHED ON THE LOC FOR THE ILS RWY 32 AT PIT AND 10 NM PRIOR TO THE OM, PITTSBURGH APCH INFORMED US TO CONTACT THE TWR AT THE MARKER. AS THE PNF, I PUT THE TWR FREQ IN THE STANDBY MODE IN COM #1, AND WAS GOING TO SWITCH IT TO THE ACTIVE MODE WHEN OVER THE MARKER. BTWN THE POINT APCH GAVE US THE INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE TWR AND THE OM, I WAS BUSY CONFIGURING THE ACFT, PERFORMING CHKLIST ITEMS AND CALLOUTS, AND CLOSELY OBSERVING THE PF'S APCH. HALFWAY BTWN THE OM AND RWY 32'S THRESHOLD, PITTSBURGH APCH REMINDED US TO CONTACT THE TWR, THEN IMMEDIATELY AFTERWARD TOLD US TO STAY WITH HIM AND THAT WE WERE CLRED TO LAND ON RWY 32. AFTER LNDG, I SWITCHED TO THE TWR AND THE TWR TOLD US TO CONTACT GND WHEN CLR OF THE RWY. THE REMINDER TO CONTACT TWR WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN NECESSARY IF APCH TOLD US TO CONTACT TWR AT THAT POINT, NOT AT A POINT IN THE DISTANCE. THERE ARE MANY THINGS THAT OCCUR DURING AN APCH THAT TAKES ONE'S MIND AWAY FROM REMEMBERING TO DO SOMETHING AT A FUTURE POINT, ESPECIALLY IF THE ITEM TO PERFORM IS NOT A PART OF THE NORMAL ROUTINE.

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.

Flight crew of a british jetstream 32 (BA32) failed to contact the tower at the marker as instructed by approach control resulting in approach intervention after the OM to inform them that they had not, and that they would then do it for them.