Narrative:

Approaching johnstown VOR eastbound on J152 ZOB on frequency 134.47 advised us that harrisburg VOR was off the air (which was confirmed by no lock on) that to proceed via jst 096 degree right to intercept lrp 296 degree right to lrp then via V210 bucks intersection to phl. It was also said to cross 40 mi west of lrp at FL270. At this time we were 90 mi out from lrp at FL330. A descent of 1000 FPM was initiated to adhere to the altitude restr. ZOB then handed us off to ZNY frequency 132.07. After initial contact the controller gave us several IFF squawk changes. Then asked if we were given an altitude crossing clearance. We read back what ZOB gave us. At this point we were descending from FL280 to FL270 on the 296 degree right from lrp at J6 DME. ZNY advised us that it was 40 mi west of har at FL270. He turned us left to 010 degrees and continue descent to FL200. We again told ZNY that our clearance was 40 mi west of lrp at FL270. We asked him to check it out. He stated that he was too busy. After approximately 1 min he came back and said he contacted ZOB and our clearance was given 40 mi west of har at FL270. At this time we informed him that harrisburg VOR was off the air--that this was reported by ZOB and verified in our cockpit. It would have been impossible to determine our relationship with harrisburg VOR since it was off the air and medium large transport is not equipped with any onboard INS equipment. I feel this was a problem with harrisburg off the air and ZOB not giving a proper descent clearance for changeover into ZNY airspace at some point 40 mi west of har at V6270 instead of 40 mi west of lancaster at FL270.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ZOB ISSUED AN ERRONEOUS CLRNC.

Narrative: APCHING JOHNSTOWN VOR EBND ON J152 ZOB ON FREQ 134.47 ADVISED US THAT HARRISBURG VOR WAS OFF THE AIR (WHICH WAS CONFIRMED BY NO LOCK ON) THAT TO PROCEED VIA JST 096 DEG R TO INTERCEPT LRP 296 DEG R TO LRP THEN VIA V210 BUCKS INTXN TO PHL. IT WAS ALSO SAID TO CROSS 40 MI W OF LRP AT FL270. AT THIS TIME WE WERE 90 MI OUT FROM LRP AT FL330. A DSCNT OF 1000 FPM WAS INITIATED TO ADHERE TO THE ALT RESTR. ZOB THEN HANDED US OFF TO ZNY FREQ 132.07. AFTER INITIAL CONTACT THE CTLR GAVE US SEVERAL IFF SQUAWK CHANGES. THEN ASKED IF WE WERE GIVEN AN ALT XING CLRNC. WE READ BACK WHAT ZOB GAVE US. AT THIS POINT WE WERE DSNDING FROM FL280 TO FL270 ON THE 296 DEG R FROM LRP AT J6 DME. ZNY ADVISED US THAT IT WAS 40 MI W OF HAR AT FL270. HE TURNED US L TO 010 DEGS AND CONTINUE DSCNT TO FL200. WE AGAIN TOLD ZNY THAT OUR CLRNC WAS 40 MI W OF LRP AT FL270. WE ASKED HIM TO CHK IT OUT. HE STATED THAT HE WAS TOO BUSY. AFTER APPROX 1 MIN HE CAME BACK AND SAID HE CONTACTED ZOB AND OUR CLRNC WAS GIVEN 40 MI W OF HAR AT FL270. AT THIS TIME WE INFORMED HIM THAT HARRISBURG VOR WAS OFF THE AIR--THAT THIS WAS RPTED BY ZOB AND VERIFIED IN OUR COCKPIT. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN IMPOSSIBLE TO DETERMINE OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH HARRISBURG VOR SINCE IT WAS OFF THE AIR AND MLG IS NOT EQUIPPED WITH ANY ONBOARD INS EQUIP. I FEEL THIS WAS A PROB WITH HARRISBURG OFF THE AIR AND ZOB NOT GIVING A PROPER DSCNT CLRNC FOR CHANGEOVER INTO ZNY AIRSPACE AT SOME POINT 40 MI W OF HAR AT V6270 INSTEAD OF 40 MI W OF LANCASTER AT FL270.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 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.