A320 flight crew deviates from assigned track due to WX.

Attributes
ACN	701725
Time
Date	200607
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : zdv.artcc
State Reference	CO
Altitude	msl single value : 36000
Environment
Weather Elements	Thunderstorm
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdv.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	A320
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
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 250 flight time total : 10000
ASRS Report	701725
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : radar other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : took precautionary avoidance action
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance Weather
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

We were over the rockies in an area of scattered thunderstorms. 40 mi ahead we began to break out a thunderstorm on radar. I attempted to contact ZDV to request a deviation but were told to stand by. Denver was working a medical emergency flight into abq. Inside of 20 NM to the cell we still had not been issued deviations even though we called multiple times. Caught between a rock and a hard place; we deviated south and as soon as we could we informed ARTCC. There was traffic south of us on the TCAS after we turned at 30 mi. Denver issued us a descent to FL340 for traffic and was none too pleased. I informed the controller that we attempted contact multiple times; but finally were out of airspace and ideas.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A320 FLT CREW DEVIATES FROM ASSIGNED TRACK DUE TO WX.

Narrative: WE WERE OVER THE ROCKIES IN AN AREA OF SCATTERED TSTMS. 40 MI AHEAD WE BEGAN TO BREAK OUT A TSTM ON RADAR. I ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT ZDV TO REQUEST A DEV BUT WERE TOLD TO STAND BY. DENVER WAS WORKING A MEDICAL EMER FLT INTO ABQ. INSIDE OF 20 NM TO THE CELL WE STILL HAD NOT BEEN ISSUED DEVS EVEN THOUGH WE CALLED MULTIPLE TIMES. CAUGHT BTWN A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE; WE DEVIATED S AND AS SOON AS WE COULD WE INFORMED ARTCC. THERE WAS TFC S OF US ON THE TCAS AFTER WE TURNED AT 30 MI. DENVER ISSUED US A DSCNT TO FL340 FOR TFC AND WAS NONE TOO PLEASED. I INFORMED THE CTLR THAT WE ATTEMPTED CONTACT MULTIPLE TIMES; BUT FINALLY WERE OUT OF AIRSPACE AND IDEAS.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.