Radio communication failure, distraction, enters arsa.

Attributes
ACN	190015
Time
Date	199109
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : syr
State Reference	NY
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1600 msl bound upper : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : syr
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 42 flight time total : 145 flight time type : 42
ASRS Report	190015
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other other : unspecified cockpit
Resolutory Action	flight crew : became reoriented flight crew : exited penetrated airspace other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Flight buf to ny. Communication radio failure 25 mi west syr VORTAC (bearing 255 from). Radio distraction caused misreading of ground reference. Plane drifted northeast of intended course of southwest wind. Realization plane in arsa occurred approximately 3 NM northwest syr VORTAC (bearing 290 from). Reaction was to turn immediately to west and descend to arsa floor (1600 ft). Aircraft will not be flown until radio equipment is properly repaired. Incident demonstrated communication problems cannot be permitted to distract pilot from navigation attention.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: RADIO COM FAILURE, DISTR, ENTERS ARSA.

Narrative: FLT BUF TO NY. COM RADIO FAILURE 25 MI W SYR VORTAC (BEARING 255 FROM). RADIO DISTR CAUSED MISREADING OF GND REF. PLANE DRIFTED NE OF INTENDED COURSE OF SW WIND. REALIZATION PLANE IN ARSA OCCURRED APPROX 3 NM NW SYR VORTAC (BEARING 290 FROM). REACTION WAS TO TURN IMMEDIATELY TO W AND DSND TO ARSA FLOOR (1600 FT). ACFT WILL NOT BE FLOWN UNTIL RADIO EQUIP IS PROPERLY REPAIRED. INCIDENT DEMONSTRATED COM PROBLEMS CANNOT BE PERMITTED TO DISTRACT PLT FROM NAV ATTN.

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.