Narrative:

I was flying on an IFR flight plan in IMC. I was in contact with approach. Just before ATC vectored me to the ILS approach; I lost radio contact with approach. I tried using my backup radio; which did not work. Then; I attempted to contact a tower; where I still could not hear their transmissions. I still flew the last assigned heading and altitude. Fortunately; I had received the telephone number for a different control tower on a previous flight. I used that number to call from my cell phone. I explained my situation and asked them for the phone number for my destination control tower. I also told them to contact my destination tower and tell them to expect an airborne phone call from me. If I couldn't reach them by telephone; I told them that I would then squawk 7600 on the transponder; fly direct to the initial approach fix for the ILS approach; and then fly the ILS approach.on my first attempt to call; my cell phone reception was dropped. I then squawked 7600 and turned to intercept the IAF. After a few minutes; my cell phone reception improved and I called again. The control tower gave me a landing clearance over the phone; and I flew the ILS approach. Once I broke out of the clouds; I was able to contact tower by radio again.I was fortunate to have re-established communications with my cell phone. However; I was also fortunate to have the other control tower's phone number stored on my cell phone. I would like to point out that the cell phone number for tower facilities is not made available on instrument approach charts; sectional charts; or even on the airport's page in the airport/facility directory. If I had not been able to contact them; I would have had no way of finding the phone number for the other tower; unless I tried reaching a flight service station by phone.in order to make this information more quickly accessible to pilots in an emergency; I would like to suggest publishing the phone number for an airport's control tower in the 'communications' section of the airport's a/FD page.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A Cessna pilot reported losing radio communications with ATC but was able to contact the Tower on their cell phone for an approach clearance.

Narrative: I was flying on an IFR flight plan in IMC. I was in contact with Approach. Just before ATC vectored me to the ILS approach; I lost radio contact with Approach. I tried using my backup radio; which did not work. Then; I attempted to contact a Tower; where I still could not hear their transmissions. I still flew the last assigned heading and altitude. Fortunately; I had received the telephone number for a different Control Tower on a previous flight. I used that number to call from my cell phone. I explained my situation and asked them for the phone number for my destination Control Tower. I also told them to contact my destination Tower and tell them to expect an airborne phone call from me. If I couldn't reach them by telephone; I told them that I would then squawk 7600 on the transponder; fly direct to the Initial Approach Fix for the ILS approach; and then fly the ILS approach.On my first attempt to call; my cell phone reception was dropped. I then squawked 7600 and turned to intercept the IAF. After a few minutes; my cell phone reception improved and I called again. The Control Tower gave me a landing clearance over the phone; and I flew the ILS approach. Once I broke out of the clouds; I was able to contact Tower by radio again.I was fortunate to have re-established communications with my cell phone. However; I was also fortunate to have the other Control Tower's phone number stored on my cell phone. I would like to point out that the cell phone number for tower facilities is not made available on instrument approach charts; sectional charts; or even on the airport's page in the Airport/Facility Directory. If I had not been able to contact them; I would have had no way of finding the phone number for the other Tower; unless I tried reaching a Flight Service Station by phone.In order to make this information more quickly accessible to pilots in an emergency; I would like to suggest publishing the phone number for an airport's control tower in the 'communications' section of the airport's A/FD page.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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.