Narrative:

I was IFR from chihuahua, mexico, to presidio, ca, on a flight plan filed with chihuahua FSS. The clearance read, 'cleared to the cuu 50 DME 043 degree fix, maintain 10000'.' upon reaching the cuu 043/50 I reported to mmcu departure and was not given handoff. Therefore I asked for a frequency but mmcu departure said that I was breaking up and that they could not hear me. I tried repeatedly to get a frequency from mmcu departure but was unable. Then I looked at the chart and got the frequency for abq center in that sector. This frequency was 132.55. I could not reach abq center on this frequency and attempted to reach el paso FSS on 122.1 while listening on the marfa VOR (mrf) 115.9. I could not get an answer from el paso FSS. Therefore I proceeded to tx 07, and upon having the airport in sight, I descended visually and landed. WX was good VFR, winds gusting 25-30 KTS. I landed uneventfully and was met by the customs officer I had called before leaving chihuahua and cleared customs and immigration uneventfully. I called el paso FSS and cancelled my flight plan and filed another plan for a flight to aln. I asked the el paso FSS briefer to check with center and ask why I could not reach them and to ask if they wanted to talk with me. He said that they should have been able to reach me and that there was no problem. An small transport departed before me and on departure we were both trying to reach abq center on 132.55. He finally reached abq and called me and said that he could not reach abq until leaving 11000'. I made contact about the same altitude. The el paso FSS briefer said that mmcu controller should have given me a handoff I am not sure that this is correct. The FBO at presidio, tx said that this sometimes happens there and is not a problem. Although the MEA on V81 from cuu to mrf is 10000', I will file for a higher altitude on my next flight from mmcu to presidio.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CORP SMT UNABLE TO CONTACT ARTCC ON FLT FROM MEXICO PROCEEDED NO RADIO CONTACT AND LANDED DESTINATION.

Narrative: I WAS IFR FROM CHIHUAHUA, MEXICO, TO PRESIDIO, CA, ON A FLT PLAN FILED WITH CHIHUAHUA FSS. THE CLRNC READ, 'CLRED TO THE CUU 50 DME 043 DEG FIX, MAINTAIN 10000'.' UPON REACHING THE CUU 043/50 I RPTED TO MMCU DEP AND WAS NOT GIVEN HDOF. THEREFORE I ASKED FOR A FREQ BUT MMCU DEP SAID THAT I WAS BREAKING UP AND THAT THEY COULD NOT HEAR ME. I TRIED REPEATEDLY TO GET A FREQ FROM MMCU DEP BUT WAS UNABLE. THEN I LOOKED AT THE CHART AND GOT THE FREQ FOR ABQ CENTER IN THAT SECTOR. THIS FREQ WAS 132.55. I COULD NOT REACH ABQ CENTER ON THIS FREQ AND ATTEMPTED TO REACH EL PASO FSS ON 122.1 WHILE LISTENING ON THE MARFA VOR (MRF) 115.9. I COULD NOT GET AN ANSWER FROM EL PASO FSS. THEREFORE I PROCEEDED TO TX 07, AND UPON HAVING THE ARPT IN SIGHT, I DSNDED VISUALLY AND LANDED. WX WAS GOOD VFR, WINDS GUSTING 25-30 KTS. I LANDED UNEVENTFULLY AND WAS MET BY THE CUSTOMS OFFICER I HAD CALLED BEFORE LEAVING CHIHUAHUA AND CLRED CUSTOMS AND IMMIGRATION UNEVENTFULLY. I CALLED EL PASO FSS AND CANCELLED MY FLT PLAN AND FILED ANOTHER PLAN FOR A FLT TO ALN. I ASKED THE EL PASO FSS BRIEFER TO CHK WITH CENTER AND ASK WHY I COULD NOT REACH THEM AND TO ASK IF THEY WANTED TO TALK WITH ME. HE SAID THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO REACH ME AND THAT THERE WAS NO PROB. AN SMT DEPARTED BEFORE ME AND ON DEP WE WERE BOTH TRYING TO REACH ABQ CENTER ON 132.55. HE FINALLY REACHED ABQ AND CALLED ME AND SAID THAT HE COULD NOT REACH ABQ UNTIL LEAVING 11000'. I MADE CONTACT ABOUT THE SAME ALT. THE EL PASO FSS BRIEFER SAID THAT MMCU CTLR SHOULD HAVE GIVEN ME A HDOF I AM NOT SURE THAT THIS IS CORRECT. THE FBO AT PRESIDIO, TX SAID THAT THIS SOMETIMES HAPPENS THERE AND IS NOT A PROB. ALTHOUGH THE MEA ON V81 FROM CUU TO MRF IS 10000', I WILL FILE FOR A HIGHER ALT ON MY NEXT FLT FROM MMCU TO PRESIDIO.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 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.