Narrative:

I was southbound on V35, approximately 10-14 mi from havle intersection. I was handed off to vld approach on 126.6. I had previously been cleared to 3000' and was level. Couldn't raise vld, returned to jacksonville approach. They gave another frequency, 124.6(?). Returned to both vld frequencys, but still couldn't raise. Returned to jax. Couldn't raise them. Thought I saw airport, began descent, realized I had misread position and climbed. Slightly later, I did positively identify art through a thin broken layer and descended for a normal approach and landing. My concern was that I had not been cleared for a specific approach and could not contact ATC. Rather than block off a whole area of airspace with normal lost communication procedures, I decided to land as soon as possible and call vld on the phone (long distance). As I was taxiing in, another aircraft contacted me on vld frequency, so I connected with him and got phone #. Under the existing conditions with WX, I felt this was the best solution. I wonder if anyone keeps records on fringe areas of ATC approach reception. Normally, my radios are quite good.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA PLT EXPERIENCES RADIO COM PROBLEM AND USES LOST COM PROC IN UNCOORD PENETRATION OF AIRSPACE.

Narrative: I WAS SBND ON V35, APPROX 10-14 MI FROM HAVLE INTXN. I WAS HANDED OFF TO VLD APCH ON 126.6. I HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN CLRED TO 3000' AND WAS LEVEL. COULDN'T RAISE VLD, RETURNED TO JACKSONVILLE APCH. THEY GAVE ANOTHER FREQ, 124.6(?). RETURNED TO BOTH VLD FREQS, BUT STILL COULDN'T RAISE. RETURNED TO JAX. COULDN'T RAISE THEM. THOUGHT I SAW ARPT, BEGAN DSNT, REALIZED I HAD MISREAD POS AND CLBED. SLIGHTLY LATER, I DID POSITIVELY IDENT ART THROUGH A THIN BROKEN LAYER AND DSNDED FOR A NORMAL APCH AND LNDG. MY CONCERN WAS THAT I HAD NOT BEEN CLRED FOR A SPECIFIC APCH AND COULD NOT CONTACT ATC. RATHER THAN BLOCK OFF A WHOLE AREA OF AIRSPACE WITH NORMAL LOST COM PROCS, I DECIDED TO LAND ASAP AND CALL VLD ON THE PHONE (LONG DISTANCE). AS I WAS TAXIING IN, ANOTHER ACFT CONTACTED ME ON VLD FREQ, SO I CONNECTED WITH HIM AND GOT PHONE #. UNDER THE EXISTING CONDITIONS WITH WX, I FELT THIS WAS THE BEST SOLUTION. I WONDER IF ANYONE KEEPS RECORDS ON FRINGE AREAS OF ATC APCH RECEPTION. NORMALLY, MY RADIOS ARE QUITE GOOD.

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.