Both navigation receivers fail due to passenger use of a cellular phone.

Attributes
ACN	235590
Time
Date	199303
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : vuz
State Reference	AL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 33000 msl bound upper : 33000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : ztl
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute airway : ztl
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 240 flight time total : 22700 flight time type : 15000
ASRS Report	235590
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical non adherence : far
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified other other : unspecified
Resolutory Action	flight crew : overcame equipment problem other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

In cruise at FL330 we lost both vors which indicated full scale needle deflection, failure flags, and no audio signal from vulcan VOR 114.4. A check of the cabin by the flight attendants produced a passenger using a cellular telephone in seat 25C. The telephone was a united states make. The telephone incident happened shortly after we chased a passenger out of a lavatory for smoking. I tell you, we can make the required announcements until you're blue in the face and they won't comply. I suggest the FAA dictates so many things to announce, most passenger tune us out and can't remember all that was said. I think we need help soon on this passenger non-complying with FAA rules. How would you like to be on a CAT III approach coming up on decision ht when some guy calls home for a ride. It's a real threat.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: BOTH NAV RECEIVERS FAIL DUE TO PAX USE OF A CELLULAR PHONE.

Narrative: IN CRUISE AT FL330 WE LOST BOTH VORS WHICH INDICATED FULL SCALE NEEDLE DEFLECTION, FAILURE FLAGS, AND NO AUDIO SIGNAL FROM VULCAN VOR 114.4. A CHK OF THE CABIN BY THE FLT ATTENDANTS PRODUCED A PAX USING A CELLULAR TELEPHONE IN SEAT 25C. THE TELEPHONE WAS A UNITED STATES MAKE. THE TELEPHONE INCIDENT HAPPENED SHORTLY AFTER WE CHASED A PAX OUT OF A LAVATORY FOR SMOKING. I TELL YOU, WE CAN MAKE THE REQUIRED ANNOUNCEMENTS UNTIL YOU'RE BLUE IN THE FACE AND THEY WON'T COMPLY. I SUGGEST THE FAA DICTATES SO MANY THINGS TO ANNOUNCE, MOST PAX TUNE US OUT AND CAN'T REMEMBER ALL THAT WAS SAID. I THINK WE NEED HELP SOON ON THIS PAX NON-COMPLYING WITH FAA RULES. HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE ON A CAT III APCH COMING UP ON DECISION HT WHEN SOME GUY CALLS HOME FOR A RIDE. IT'S A REAL THREAT.

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.