Because of a language problem, a B767 crew at FL330 inbound to eddm changed to a wrong frequency.

Attributes
ACN	517120
Time
Date	200107
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : edmm.artcc
State Reference	FO
Altitude	msl single value : 33000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : s46.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B767 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : flight engineer pilot : commercial pilot : atp pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 12000 flight time type : 3500
ASRS Report	517120
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : published procedure
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance none taken : anomaly accepted
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance

Narrative:

Due to language barrier, we misunderstood frequency change. Attempts to contact previous controller were unsuccessful. While still at altitude and getting close to munich airport, we contacted munich radar. Munich radar gave us an uneventful descent and vectors. They confirmed to us that there were no conflicts.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: BECAUSE OF A LANGUAGE PROB, A B767 CREW AT FL330 INBOUND TO EDDM CHANGED TO A WRONG FREQ.

Narrative: DUE TO LANGUAGE BARRIER, WE MISUNDERSTOOD FREQ CHANGE. ATTEMPTS TO CONTACT PREVIOUS CTLR WERE UNSUCCESSFUL. WHILE STILL AT ALT AND GETTING CLOSE TO MUNICH ARPT, WE CONTACTED MUNICH RADAR. MUNICH RADAR GAVE US AN UNEVENTFUL DSCNT AND VECTORS. THEY CONFIRMED TO US THAT THERE WERE NO CONFLICTS.

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.