B757 flight crew deviated around WX without obtaining clearance.

Attributes
ACN	438709
Time
Date	199905
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	intersection : eliom
State Reference	FO
Altitude	msl single value : 35000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Weather Elements	Thunderstorm
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : mmid.artcc artcc : zhu.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B757 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
ASRS Report	4388709
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : multi engine
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe inflight encounter : weather non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took precautionary avoidance action flight crew : exited adverse environment
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Navigational Facility Weather Aircraft
Primary Problem	Weather
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Approximately 30 mi northeast of eliom, we observed a line of thunderstorms about 100 mi long. We attempted to contact commercial radio for a clearance to deviate. We were not successful on both VHF and UHF. We then tried ZHU, ZMA, and merida center -- all without success. I initiated a deviation to the north and broadcast in the blind on guard frequencys. We deviated about 50 mi north of course and finally re-established communications with merida center about 30 mi north of alard intersection.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B757 FLC DEVIATED AROUND WX WITHOUT OBTAINING CLRNC.

Narrative: APPROX 30 MI NE OF ELIOM, WE OBSERVED A LINE OF TSTMS ABOUT 100 MI LONG. WE ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT COMMERCIAL RADIO FOR A CLRNC TO DEVIATE. WE WERE NOT SUCCESSFUL ON BOTH VHF AND UHF. WE THEN TRIED ZHU, ZMA, AND MERIDA CTR -- ALL WITHOUT SUCCESS. I INITIATED A DEV TO THE N AND BROADCAST IN THE BLIND ON GUARD FREQS. WE DEVIATED ABOUT 50 MI N OF COURSE AND FINALLY RE-ESTABLISHED COMS WITH MERIDA CTR ABOUT 30 MI N OF ALARD INTXN.

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.