Narrative:

This was a night flight from phoenix sky harbor to goodyear. I received clearance from clearance delivery to 'squawk XXXX, fly runway heading at 3000', departure frequency is 123.7,' which was read back and confirmed. After liftoff on runway 26R, the tower assigned me a heading of 220, which is in the direction of south mtn. Shortly thereafter the tower controller told me to 'contact departure.' I switched to comm 2, which was preset to 123.7, and called departure. There was no response. I tried several times and still could not get a response. I tried several times and still could not get a response. I then entered 123.7 on comm 1 and tried ot reach departure on that radio. There was silence and no response. At that point I continued my climb through 3000' since I was aware that south mtn and its radio towers were 3000'. I tried both radios several times with no response. I then switched back to the tower frequency for a radio check. Upon contact, I told the controller of my inability to contact departure. She then told me to 'try another frequency, 124.1.' I called on 124.1, made contact, and leveled off at 3700'. The departure controller immediately admonished me for climbing through an assigned altitude. I explained what had happened, and he then cleared me to my destination. I believe that tower should have informed me of a frequency change and the shutdown of 123.7 (especially since I was vectored towards a mtn).

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA CLIMBED ABOVE ASSIGNED ALT IN ARSA WHEN UNABLE TO CONTACT DEP CTL ON ASSIGNED FREQ.

Narrative: THIS WAS A NIGHT FLT FROM PHOENIX SKY HARBOR TO GOODYEAR. I RECEIVED CLRNC FROM CLRNC DELIVERY TO 'SQUAWK XXXX, FLY RUNWAY HDG AT 3000', DEP FREQ IS 123.7,' WHICH WAS READ BACK AND CONFIRMED. AFTER LIFTOFF ON RWY 26R, THE TWR ASSIGNED ME A HDG OF 220, WHICH IS IN THE DIRECTION OF S MTN. SHORTLY THEREAFTER THE TWR CTLR TOLD ME TO 'CONTACT DEP.' I SWITCHED TO COMM 2, WHICH WAS PRESET TO 123.7, AND CALLED DEP. THERE WAS NO RESPONSE. I TRIED SEVERAL TIMES AND STILL COULD NOT GET A RESPONSE. I TRIED SEVERAL TIMES AND STILL COULD NOT GET A RESPONSE. I THEN ENTERED 123.7 ON COMM 1 AND TRIED OT REACH DEP ON THAT RADIO. THERE WAS SILENCE AND NO RESPONSE. AT THAT POINT I CONTINUED MY CLB THROUGH 3000' SINCE I WAS AWARE THAT S MTN AND ITS RADIO TWRS WERE 3000'. I TRIED BOTH RADIOS SEVERAL TIMES WITH NO RESPONSE. I THEN SWITCHED BACK TO THE TWR FREQ FOR A RADIO CHK. UPON CONTACT, I TOLD THE CTLR OF MY INABILITY TO CONTACT DEP. SHE THEN TOLD ME TO 'TRY ANOTHER FREQ, 124.1.' I CALLED ON 124.1, MADE CONTACT, AND LEVELED OFF AT 3700'. THE DEP CTLR IMMEDIATELY ADMONISHED ME FOR CLBING THROUGH AN ASSIGNED ALT. I EXPLAINED WHAT HAD HAPPENED, AND HE THEN CLRED ME TO MY DEST. I BELIEVE THAT TWR SHOULD HAVE INFORMED ME OF A FREQ CHANGE AND THE SHUTDOWN OF 123.7 (ESPECIALLY SINCE I WAS VECTORED TOWARDS A MTN).

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.