Flight crew of air carrier aircraft deviated flight track due WX resulting in no conflict.

Attributes
ACN	211332
Time
Date	199205
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : chs
State Reference	SC
Altitude	msl bound lower : 33000 msl bound upper : 33000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 13000 flight time type : 3000
ASRS Report	211332
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : second officer
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : flight engineer pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 181 flight time total : 3800 flight time type : 1400
ASRS Report	211561
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	atc equipment other atc equipment : unspecified other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

On a flight from mco to bwi we were proceeding on deviations due to WX. The flight had been off airways from takeoff. At a point approximately 50 NM west of charleston, sc. We were cleared direct richmond. Still in an area of thunderstorms, we called for deviations around an overhang with no response. After a second call we made a 10 degree turn east to stay below the overhang. Still no answer from ATC. We deviated approximately 4 mi east of direct course. TCASII showed no traffic in the 20 NM ring. As we were in the turn back to on course ATC called and asked what our heading was. We told ATC of our deviation and ATC cleared us direct richmond and gave us a descent to 310. I asked ATC if we had a conflict. They answered that; yes there was an aircraft at 20 NM off to the side. Perhaps we were more willing to make a deviation than normal due to the fact that our TCASII showed no traffic in our area. Sometimes more information is not more advantageous.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLC OF ACR ACFT DEVIATED FLT TRACK DUE WX RESULTING IN NO CONFLICT.

Narrative: ON A FLT FROM MCO TO BWI WE WERE PROCEEDING ON DEVS DUE TO WX. THE FLT HAD BEEN OFF AIRWAYS FROM TKOF. AT A POINT APPROX 50 NM W OF CHARLESTON, SC. WE WERE CLRED DIRECT RICHMOND. STILL IN AN AREA OF TSTMS, WE CALLED FOR DEVS AROUND AN OVERHANG WITH NO RESPONSE. AFTER A SECOND CALL WE MADE A 10 DEG TURN E TO STAY BELOW THE OVERHANG. STILL NO ANSWER FROM ATC. WE DEVIATED APPROX 4 MI E OF DIRECT COURSE. TCASII SHOWED NO TFC IN THE 20 NM RING. AS WE WERE IN THE TURN BACK TO ON COURSE ATC CALLED AND ASKED WHAT OUR HDG WAS. WE TOLD ATC OF OUR DEV AND ATC CLRED US DIRECT RICHMOND AND GAVE US A DSCNT TO 310. I ASKED ATC IF WE HAD A CONFLICT. THEY ANSWERED THAT; YES THERE WAS AN ACFT AT 20 NM OFF TO THE SIDE. PERHAPS WE WERE MORE WILLING TO MAKE A DEV THAN NORMAL DUE TO THE FACT THAT OUR TCASII SHOWED NO TFC IN OUR AREA. SOMETIMES MORE INFO IS NOT MORE ADVANTAGEOUS.

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.