Pilot of atx on VFR flight drifted 50 mi off planned course.

Attributes
ACN	199030
Time
Date	199201
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : mie
State Reference	IN
Altitude	msl bound lower : 5500 msl bound upper : 5500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zid
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	Small Transport, Low Wing, 2 Recip Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other landing other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : atp pilot : instrument
Experience	controller non radar : 15 controller radar : 10 controller supervisory : 3 flight time last 90 days : 50 flight time total : 9000 flight time type : 3000
ASRS Report	199030
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other other : unspecified cockpit
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance controller : provided flight assist flight crew : became reoriented other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I left pbf, ar, in route to jpu, wv. My route of flight was pbf- hli-jks-bwg-gwo-hyk-yrk-jpu. I got a complete WX brief before departure. I departed pbf-hli-jks. After leaving jks, tn, I failed to start receiving bwg, ky. I decided to fly a heading till receiving ewo, ky. After 1 hour of flight I began to get concerned. I tried other frequencys, and was unable to verify any frequency that I was familiar with. I tried to call ATC on several frequencys, but was unable. I had 2 hours of fuel left, and decided to try 121.5 before I got myself into a real problem. To my surprise 3 different controllers answered my call. I then was given another frequency to contact ATC on. I was radar idented 15 mi south of muncie, in. I had about a 60 mph crosswind. I remained VFR at all times until I was given a transponder code, idented by ATC, and given an assigned altitude. I then filed an IFR flight plan to fwa. I landed, refueled the aircraft, and filed a new flight plan to a new destination. I thank ATC, and the system for their help. It works.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT OF ATX ON VFR FLT DRIFTED 50 MI OFF PLANNED COURSE.

Narrative: I LEFT PBF, AR, IN RTE TO JPU, WV. MY RTE OF FLT WAS PBF- HLI-JKS-BWG-GWO-HYK-YRK-JPU. I GOT A COMPLETE WX BRIEF BEFORE DEP. I DEPARTED PBF-HLI-JKS. AFTER LEAVING JKS, TN, I FAILED TO START RECEIVING BWG, KY. I DECIDED TO FLY A HDG TILL RECEIVING EWO, KY. AFTER 1 HR OF FLT I BEGAN TO GET CONCERNED. I TRIED OTHER FREQS, AND WAS UNABLE TO VERIFY ANY FREQ THAT I WAS FAMILIAR WITH. I TRIED TO CALL ATC ON SEVERAL FREQS, BUT WAS UNABLE. I HAD 2 HRS OF FUEL LEFT, AND DECIDED TO TRY 121.5 BEFORE I GOT MYSELF INTO A REAL PROBLEM. TO MY SURPRISE 3 DIFFERENT CTLRS ANSWERED MY CALL. I THEN WAS GIVEN ANOTHER FREQ TO CONTACT ATC ON. I WAS RADAR IDENTED 15 MI S OF MUNCIE, IN. I HAD ABOUT A 60 MPH XWIND. I REMAINED VFR AT ALL TIMES UNTIL I WAS GIVEN A TRANSPONDER CODE, IDENTED BY ATC, AND GIVEN AN ASSIGNED ALT. I THEN FILED AN IFR FLT PLAN TO FWA. I LANDED, REFUELED THE ACFT, AND FILED A NEW FLT PLAN TO A NEW DEST. I THANK ATC, AND THE SYS FOR THEIR HELP. IT WORKS.

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.