A B737 crew deviated thunderstorms on their own, unable to contact ATC.

Attributes
ACN	512361
Time
Date	200105
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : pbi.airport
State Reference	FL
Altitude	msl single value : 10000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Weather Elements	Thunderstorm
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zma.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	departure : on vectors enroute airway : a699.airway
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 270 flight time total : 6000 flight time type : 3000
ASRS Report	512361
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended or assigned course none taken : anomaly accepted other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Weather ATC Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

On departure out of pbi, on a vector to intercept A699, numerous thunderstorms in the area. Needed a 90 degree turn to the north to avoid some large cells. ZMA was completely saturated, and could get a word in. We would have exercised our authority/authorized to declare an emergency and deviate, but radio frequency was completely saturated. Deviated on our own for the next 5 mins, making numerous turns. Controller was so busy, I don't think he ever knew we had deviated. So much traffic on 1 frequency is dangerous.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B737 CREW DEVIATED TSTMS ON THEIR OWN, UNABLE TO CONTACT ATC.

Narrative: ON DEP OUT OF PBI, ON A VECTOR TO INTERCEPT A699, NUMEROUS TSTMS IN THE AREA. NEEDED A 90 DEG TURN TO THE N TO AVOID SOME LARGE CELLS. ZMA WAS COMPLETELY SATURATED, AND COULD GET A WORD IN. WE WOULD HAVE EXERCISED OUR AUTH TO DECLARE AN EMER AND DEVIATE, BUT RADIO FREQ WAS COMPLETELY SATURATED. DEVIATED ON OUR OWN FOR THE NEXT 5 MINS, MAKING NUMEROUS TURNS. CTLR WAS SO BUSY, I DON'T THINK HE EVER KNEW WE HAD DEVIATED. SO MUCH TFC ON 1 FREQ IS DANGEROUS.

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.