GA pilot becomes distraction and misses multiple calls from phl approach control while on en route v...

Attributes
ACN	508986
Time
Date	200104
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : mxe.vor
State Reference	PA
Altitude	msl single value : 4000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Weather Elements	Rain
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : phl.tracon artcc : ztl.artcc
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	M-20 J (201)
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : cfi pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 60 flight time total : 1650 flight time type : 400
ASRS Report	508986
Person 2
Affiliation	other
Function	observation : passenger
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather non adherence : published procedure other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance controller : issued advisory flight crew : became reoriented flight crew : returned to intended or assigned course
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Weather Flight Crew Human Performance Passenger Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

We departed pne to ilg. Flight plan was pne direct mxe direct ilg. Clearance was pne runway heading (from runway 33) then radar vectors to mxe then direct ilg. Climb and maintain 3000 ft, expect 4000 ft within 10 mins. We had been cleared to 4000 ft and given a left turn in the direction (general) direction of mxe. I tuned ilg ATIS on communication #2. My passenger was not a pilot and this was his first flight in IMC. He became 'chatty.' the intercom volume was turned up louder than I realized. Between ATIS on communication #2 and chatty passenger on ics, I missed calls from phl approach. When I re-established contact, the controller said he had been trying to contact us for the last 10 mi and that we should proceed direct to mxe. This was only a 305 degree heading change and I immediately complied. I also turned down the ics volume, and apologized to the controller.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: GA PLT BECOMES DISTR AND MISSES MULTIPLE CALLS FROM PHL APCH CTL WHILE ON ENRTE VECTOR.

Narrative: WE DEPARTED PNE TO ILG. FLT PLAN WAS PNE DIRECT MXE DIRECT ILG. CLRNC WAS PNE RWY HDG (FROM RWY 33) THEN RADAR VECTORS TO MXE THEN DIRECT ILG. CLB AND MAINTAIN 3000 FT, EXPECT 4000 FT WITHIN 10 MINS. WE HAD BEEN CLRED TO 4000 FT AND GIVEN A L TURN IN THE DIRECTION (GENERAL) DIRECTION OF MXE. I TUNED ILG ATIS ON COM #2. MY PAX WAS NOT A PLT AND THIS WAS HIS FIRST FLT IN IMC. HE BECAME 'CHATTY.' THE INTERCOM VOLUME WAS TURNED UP LOUDER THAN I REALIZED. BTWN ATIS ON COM #2 AND CHATTY PAX ON ICS, I MISSED CALLS FROM PHL APCH. WHEN I RE-ESTABLISHED CONTACT, THE CTLR SAID HE HAD BEEN TRYING TO CONTACT US FOR THE LAST 10 MI AND THAT WE SHOULD PROCEED DIRECT TO MXE. THIS WAS ONLY A 305 DEG HDG CHANGE AND I IMMEDIATELY COMPLIED. I ALSO TURNED DOWN THE ICS VOLUME, AND APOLOGIZED TO THE CTLR.

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.

GA pilot becomes distraction and misses multiple calls from phl approach control while on en route vector.