Narrative:

Experienced intermittent loss of signal from dbq VOR (dubuque) as we approached the facility from the west. We received clearance to proceed to 'bribe' intersection via dbq 051 degree radial to J-90 and hold. As we progressed toward bribe, we experienced complete loss of VOR capability. All cockpit indications revealed no explanation for loss. It occurred to us that possibly a passenger was operating a prohibited electronic device. F/a's were asked to check the cabin for devices. We also advised ATC that we had loss of navigation capability and that vectors were required. Bribe intersection may have been overshot. ATC provided vectors for holding. After about 16 mins our navigation capability was restored with no further incident. Strongly suspect passenger operated cellular telephone. A passenger was observed carrying one on board by F/a's. Pilots were not advised. Aircraft was flown on next leg with no incident. Information: this is the third such incident I have been involved in within last 2 yrs. Each time navigation was restored immediately after an announcement to passenger that navigation capability was lost due to possible interference from use of prohibited electronic device. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following: I called cellular people and they deny that their telephone could interfere with a VOR signal. However, we have no other explanation for the VOR going out. We were unable to tune in any other VOR station in that area. Then it all came back after we made an announcement to the cabin that we had lost navigation signals because of the possibility that someone was activating an electronic signal.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AFTER PASSING DBQ LGT ACFT LOST VOR NAVIGATION SIGNAL, UNABLE TO TUNE IN ANY VOR. MADE ANNOUNCEMENT TO CABIN REGARDING OPERATING ELECTRONIC DEVICES AND VOR REACQUIRED NORMALLY.

Narrative: EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENT LOSS OF SIGNAL FROM DBQ VOR (DUBUQUE) AS WE APCHED THE FAC FROM THE W. WE RECEIVED CLRNC TO PROCEED TO 'BRIBE' INTXN VIA DBQ 051 DEG RADIAL TO J-90 AND HOLD. AS WE PROGRESSED TOWARD BRIBE, WE EXPERIENCED COMPLETE LOSS OF VOR CAPABILITY. ALL COCKPIT INDICATIONS REVEALED NO EXPLANATION FOR LOSS. IT OCCURRED TO US THAT POSSIBLY A PAX WAS OPERATING A PROHIBITED ELECTRONIC DEVICE. F/A'S WERE ASKED TO CHECK THE CABIN FOR DEVICES. WE ALSO ADVISED ATC THAT WE HAD LOSS OF NAVIGATION CAPABILITY AND THAT VECTORS WERE REQUIRED. BRIBE INTXN MAY HAVE BEEN OVERSHOT. ATC PROVIDED VECTORS FOR HOLDING. AFTER ABOUT 16 MINS OUR NAVIGATION CAPABILITY WAS RESTORED WITH NO FURTHER INCIDENT. STRONGLY SUSPECT PAX OPERATED CELLULAR TELEPHONE. A PAX WAS OBSERVED CARRYING ONE ON BOARD BY F/A'S. PLTS WERE NOT ADVISED. ACFT WAS FLOWN ON NEXT LEG WITH NO INCIDENT. INFO: THIS IS THE THIRD SUCH INCIDENT I HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN WITHIN LAST 2 YRS. EACH TIME NAVIGATION WAS RESTORED IMMEDIATELY AFTER AN ANNOUNCEMENT TO PAX THAT NAVIGATION CAPABILITY WAS LOST DUE TO POSSIBLE INTERFERENCE FROM USE OF PROHIBITED ELECTRONIC DEVICE. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH REPORTER REVEALED THE FOLLOWING: I CALLED CELLULAR PEOPLE AND THEY DENY THAT THEIR TELEPHONE COULD INTERFERE WITH A VOR SIGNAL. HOWEVER, WE HAVE NO OTHER EXPLANATION FOR THE VOR GOING OUT. WE WERE UNABLE TO TUNE IN ANY OTHER VOR STATION IN THAT AREA. THEN IT ALL CAME BACK AFTER WE MADE AN ANNOUNCEMENT TO THE CABIN THAT WE HAD LOST NAVIGATION SIGNALS BECAUSE OF THE POSSIBILITY THAT SOMEONE WAS ACTIVATING AN ELECTRONIC SIGNAL.

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.