Narrative:

We were cleared direct to col and observed a line of thunderstorms across our route aligned northeast/southwest. We requested and received clearance to deviate south of course. Shortly later, we were told that to avoid a restr area we needed to pass north of tph VOR 075 degree radial 50 DME. We were then given the VOR frequency. Though we tuned in the VOR frequency on our raw data, having an RMI bearing to the station and DME to station does not locate the point in space which we were to pass north of. We verified the station identification and tried to put it into our IRS system (RNAV). Apparently this point is not in our data base. We also looked and could not find 'tpa' on our high altitude chart, so apparently it is a low altitude VOR. At this point the controller told us to turn north to avoid restr area. As we still had solid line of circuit breaker and radar doppler function was showing a lot of turbulence we advised him that we were unable. We advised that we had to stay south for a few more miles to get past line of circuit breaker's. He again advised that we would enter restr area shortly if we didn't turn north. We advised that we were still unable but would turn as soon as possible. I directed the F/a's to take their seats (seat belt sign was already on for passenger) and we skirted the end of storm as close as I felt safe. I'm not sure if we actively entered the restr area but from the controller's voice we were either in or close. I feel this situation could have been avoided if we were given a fix for the corner of the restr area that was more usable in the cockpit. Lacking this, I should have requested a latitude/long description that could have been entered in the IRS system. This would have allowed us to locate the fix reference our aircraft and take different action, or advise the controller earlier.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLT CREW OF ADVANCED LGT ENTERED RESTRICTED AREA WHEN UNABLE TO ACCEPT VECTOR HEADING BECAUSE OF TSTM ACTIVITY.

Narrative: WE WERE CLRED DIRECT TO COL AND OBSERVED A LINE OF TSTMS ACROSS OUR ROUTE ALIGNED NE/SW. WE REQUESTED AND RECEIVED CLRNC TO DEVIATE S OF COURSE. SHORTLY LATER, WE WERE TOLD THAT TO AVOID A RESTR AREA WE NEEDED TO PASS N OF TPH VOR 075 DEG RADIAL 50 DME. WE WERE THEN GIVEN THE VOR FREQ. THOUGH WE TUNED IN THE VOR FREQ ON OUR RAW DATA, HAVING AN RMI BEARING TO THE STATION AND DME TO STATION DOES NOT LOCATE THE POINT IN SPACE WHICH WE WERE TO PASS N OF. WE VERIFIED THE STATION ID AND TRIED TO PUT IT INTO OUR IRS SYSTEM (RNAV). APPARENTLY THIS POINT IS NOT IN OUR DATA BASE. WE ALSO LOOKED AND COULD NOT FIND 'TPA' ON OUR HIGH ALT CHART, SO APPARENTLY IT IS A LOW ALT VOR. AT THIS POINT THE CTLR TOLD US TO TURN N TO AVOID RESTR AREA. AS WE STILL HAD SOLID LINE OF CB AND RADAR DOPPLER FUNCTION WAS SHOWING A LOT OF TURBULENCE WE ADVISED HIM THAT WE WERE UNABLE. WE ADVISED THAT WE HAD TO STAY S FOR A FEW MORE MILES TO GET PAST LINE OF CB'S. HE AGAIN ADVISED THAT WE WOULD ENTER RESTR AREA SHORTLY IF WE DIDN'T TURN N. WE ADVISED THAT WE WERE STILL UNABLE BUT WOULD TURN AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. I DIRECTED THE F/A'S TO TAKE THEIR SEATS (SEAT BELT SIGN WAS ALREADY ON FOR PAX) AND WE SKIRTED THE END OF STORM AS CLOSE AS I FELT SAFE. I'M NOT SURE IF WE ACTIVELY ENTERED THE RESTR AREA BUT FROM THE CTLR'S VOICE WE WERE EITHER IN OR CLOSE. I FEEL THIS SITUATION COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED IF WE WERE GIVEN A FIX FOR THE CORNER OF THE RESTR AREA THAT WAS MORE USABLE IN THE COCKPIT. LACKING THIS, I SHOULD HAVE REQUESTED A LAT/LONG DESCRIPTION THAT COULD HAVE BEEN ENTERED IN THE IRS SYSTEM. THIS WOULD HAVE ALLOWED US TO LOCATE THE FIX REF OUR ACFT AND TAKE DIFFERENT ACTION, OR ADVISE THE CTLR EARLIER.

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.