<< >> NASA ASRS Report 581143, May 2003

MD80 crew arriving stl deviated around a thunderstorm, but were unable to obtain clearance from ATC, because of frequency congestion.

Attributes
ACN	581143
Time
Date	200305
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	intersection : lorle
State Reference	MO
Altitude	msl bound lower : 8000 msl bound upper : 11000
Environment
Weather Elements	Thunderstorm Rain
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : t75.tracon tower : cyyc.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-80 Super 80
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : approach descent : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
ASRS Report	581143
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
ASRS Report	581141
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather non adherence : published procedure non adherence : clearance other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	atc equipment other atc equipment : radar/mode c aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : wx radar other controllera other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	controller : issued advisory flight crew : took precautionary avoidance action
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Weather
Primary Problem	Weather

Narrative:

During arrival at stl, we were coming down the rivers arrival toward some heavy precipitation. As we approached the precipitation area, we saw numerous lightning flashes in the clouds immediately in front of us. I was unable to get a word in to ATC requesting deviation. I told the first officer to turn right to avoid the storm cloud. As the turn was initiated, I was able to notify ATC about the deviation. We had barely strayed from course when ATC was notified. We turned back parallel to the arrival as soon as we were clear of the WX. ATC did comment about turning without permission, but no other comments were made. I felt that the situation required immediate action to guarantee the safety of the aircraft and passenger.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MD80 CREW ARRIVING STL DEVIATED AROUND A TSTM, BUT WERE UNABLE TO OBTAIN CLRNC FROM ATC, BECAUSE OF FREQ CONGESTION.

Narrative: DURING ARR AT STL, WE WERE COMING DOWN THE RIVERS ARR TOWARD SOME HEAVY PRECIP. AS WE APCHED THE PRECIP AREA, WE SAW NUMEROUS LIGHTNING FLASHES IN THE CLOUDS IMMEDIATELY IN FRONT OF US. I WAS UNABLE TO GET A WORD IN TO ATC REQUESTING DEVIATION. I TOLD THE FO TO TURN R TO AVOID THE STORM CLOUD. AS THE TURN WAS INITIATED, I WAS ABLE TO NOTIFY ATC ABOUT THE DEVIATION. WE HAD BARELY STRAYED FROM COURSE WHEN ATC WAS NOTIFIED. WE TURNED BACK PARALLEL TO THE ARR AS SOON AS WE WERE CLR OF THE WX. ATC DID COMMENT ABOUT TURNING WITHOUT PERMISSION, BUT NO OTHER COMMENTS WERE MADE. I FELT THAT THE SIT REQUIRED IMMEDIATE ACTION TO GUARANTEE THE SAFETY OF THE ACFT AND PAX.

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.