Pilot's first attempt to contact departure controller is on wrong frequency.

Attributes
ACN	435790
Time
Date	199905
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : mht.airport
State Reference	NH
Altitude	msl single value : 2500
Environment
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : mht.tracon
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	SF 340A
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	climbout : initial
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
ASRS Report	435790
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued advisory
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

Departing mht airport, clearance instructed us to contact departure 124.90. The frequency is also listed on mht 3 departure SID. After departing, mht tower advised us to contact departure. As the PNF, I had 124.9 already dialed in standby frequency and had flipped the radio. As a normal practice I usually 'install' the 'next' frequency in the standby to make workload easier. 5 yrs flying in the northeast area, I have most of the frequencys memorized. I installed 134.75 in standby and inadvertently flipped the radio again. I then contacted departure. I was 'stepped on' once by a citation. I was then able to contact mht departure. He instructed me to climb to 10000 ft, which is normal procedure. At this point he advised us that we should have contacted 124.90 first and also remarked it was also published on the SID. To not make a longer argument, we simply responded 'we understood, roger.'

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT'S FIRST ATTEMPT TO CONTACT DEP CTLR IS ON WRONG FREQ.

Narrative: DEPARTING MHT ARPT, CLRNC INSTRUCTED US TO CONTACT DEP 124.90. THE FREQ IS ALSO LISTED ON MHT 3 DEP SID. AFTER DEPARTING, MHT TWR ADVISED US TO CONTACT DEP. AS THE PNF, I HAD 124.9 ALREADY DIALED IN STANDBY FREQ AND HAD FLIPPED THE RADIO. AS A NORMAL PRACTICE I USUALLY 'INSTALL' THE 'NEXT' FREQ IN THE STANDBY TO MAKE WORKLOAD EASIER. 5 YRS FLYING IN THE NORTHEAST AREA, I HAVE MOST OF THE FREQS MEMORIZED. I INSTALLED 134.75 IN STANDBY AND INADVERTENTLY FLIPPED THE RADIO AGAIN. I THEN CONTACTED DEP. I WAS 'STEPPED ON' ONCE BY A CITATION. I WAS THEN ABLE TO CONTACT MHT DEP. HE INSTRUCTED ME TO CLB TO 10000 FT, WHICH IS NORMAL PROC. AT THIS POINT HE ADVISED US THAT WE SHOULD HAVE CONTACTED 124.90 FIRST AND ALSO REMARKED IT WAS ALSO PUBLISHED ON THE SID. TO NOT MAKE A LONGER ARGUMENT, WE SIMPLY RESPONDED 'WE UNDERSTOOD, ROGER.'

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.