Pilot deviated around a severe WX cell when he could not contact departure controller.

Attributes
ACN	159190
Time
Date	199010
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : mia
State Reference	FL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 5000 msl bound upper : 5000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : mia
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	departure other departure sid : sid
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 10000 flight time type : 600
ASRS Report	159190
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : atp pilot : flight engineer pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 4000 flight time type : 500
ASRS Report	159717
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : declared emergency flight crew : exited adverse environment
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

After takeoff first officer flying we were switched over to departure immediately attempted contact with departure control about 6 times. First try was at approximately 800' continued attempts approximately each 1000' until 5000'. Departure frequency was extremely busy. At 5000' heading 090 degree, we were heading directly into a very large thunderstorm cell that we could see and also showed on radar more cells appeared to the left. I made another attempt to contact departure and then called that we were starting a right turn to remain clear of a cell. Departures first response to me was to ask our heading when we were in the turn passing through about 120 degree heading. We were then instructed to 'turn left to 090 degree when able.' almost immediately this was changed to 'continue to a 220 degree heading maintain 5000'.' shortly thereafter we were asked if we 'called before making the turn.' I replied that I tried about 6 times and also called that we were turning. Later I was told to call the watch supervisor.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT DEVIATED AROUND A SEVERE WX CELL WHEN HE COULD NOT CONTACT DEP CTLR.

Narrative: AFTER TKOF F/O FLYING WE WERE SWITCHED OVER TO DEP IMMEDIATELY ATTEMPTED CONTACT WITH DEP CTL ABOUT 6 TIMES. FIRST TRY WAS AT APPROX 800' CONTINUED ATTEMPTS APPROX EACH 1000' UNTIL 5000'. DEP FREQ WAS EXTREMELY BUSY. AT 5000' HDG 090 DEG, WE WERE HDG DIRECTLY INTO A VERY LARGE TSTM CELL THAT WE COULD SEE AND ALSO SHOWED ON RADAR MORE CELLS APPEARED TO THE L. I MADE ANOTHER ATTEMPT TO CONTACT DEP AND THEN CALLED THAT WE WERE STARTING A R TURN TO REMAIN CLR OF A CELL. DEPS FIRST RESPONSE TO ME WAS TO ASK OUR HDG WHEN WE WERE IN THE TURN PASSING THROUGH ABOUT 120 DEG HDG. WE WERE THEN INSTRUCTED TO 'TURN L TO 090 DEG WHEN ABLE.' ALMOST IMMEDIATELY THIS WAS CHANGED TO 'CONTINUE TO A 220 DEG HDG MAINTAIN 5000'.' SHORTLY THEREAFTER WE WERE ASKED IF WE 'CALLED BEFORE MAKING THE TURN.' I REPLIED THAT I TRIED ABOUT 6 TIMES AND ALSO CALLED THAT WE WERE TURNING. LATER I WAS TOLD TO CALL THE WATCH SUPVR.

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.