Private pilot used an ATC frequency for air to air communications.

Attributes
ACN	140729
Time
Date	199003
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : fat
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 19000 msl bound upper : 19000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zoa
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 30 flight time total : 1400 flight time type : 130
ASRS Report	140729
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Inadvertently used 123.45 MHZ for air-to-air communications with another aircraft. Thought appropriate frequency until told otherwise. Need for better understanding of frequencys which can or cannot be used for air-to-air communications. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following: reporter stated that frequency used, 123.45, was reserved for missile research by a southern california firm. He also said that he was on an IFR flight plan rather than VFR as shown on his report.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PRIVATE PLT USED AN ATC FREQ FOR AIR TO AIR COMS.

Narrative: INADVERTENTLY USED 123.45 MHZ FOR AIR-TO-AIR COMS WITH ANOTHER ACFT. THOUGHT APPROPRIATE FREQ UNTIL TOLD OTHERWISE. NEED FOR BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF FREQS WHICH CAN OR CANNOT BE USED FOR AIR-TO-AIR COMS. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH REPORTER REVEALED THE FOLLOWING: REPORTER STATED THAT FREQ USED, 123.45, WAS RESERVED FOR MISSILE RESEARCH BY A SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA FIRM. HE ALSO SAID THAT HE WAS ON AN IFR FLT PLAN RATHER THAN VFR AS SHOWN ON HIS REPORT.

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.