Small aircraft encounters thunderstorm requests vectors.

Attributes
ACN	184826
Time
Date	199107
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : phl
State Reference	PA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2500 msl bound upper : 2500
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : phl
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 20 flight time total : 129
ASRS Report	184825
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other other : unspecified cockpit
Resolutory Action	controller : provided flight assist other
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Weather

Narrative:

On route from monassas, va to hartford, ct, between westminster VOR and pottstown VOR at 2500 MSL, visibility 4.5 mi with haze. About 5-10 mins outside of baltimore radar area I met a thunderstorm and turned 180 degree and started to circle and maintain VFR. I contacted philadelphia approach and requested to be vectored around the thunderstorm. I reported my position as southwest of the TCA on route to pottstown. They couldn't see me on radar and requested I turn transponder to 7700 and talk to them on 121.5. They had me triangulate my position and fly to lancaster for landing. Later they told me to report to the robertson, ct FBO that the transponder was intermittent. It was a rental plane. The WX brief stated possibility of thunderstorm after XX00 pm. I spent too much time looking at and holding a straight course and not where I was on that course. I should have triangulated by position before I contacted philadelphia approach. I should have had alternate airports to land at if this occurred in my flight plan.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA ENCOUNTERS TSTM REQUESTS VECTORS.

Narrative: ON RTE FROM MONASSAS, VA TO HARTFORD, CT, BTWN WESTMINSTER VOR AND POTTSTOWN VOR AT 2500 MSL, VISIBILITY 4.5 MI WITH HAZE. ABOUT 5-10 MINS OUTSIDE OF BALTIMORE RADAR AREA I MET A TSTM AND TURNED 180 DEG AND STARTED TO CIRCLE AND MAINTAIN VFR. I CONTACTED PHILADELPHIA APCH AND REQUESTED TO BE VECTORED AROUND THE TSTM. I RPTED MY POS AS SW OF THE TCA ON RTE TO POTTSTOWN. THEY COULDN'T SEE ME ON RADAR AND REQUESTED I TURN TRANSPONDER TO 7700 AND TALK TO THEM ON 121.5. THEY HAD ME TRIANGULATE MY POS AND FLY TO LANCASTER FOR LNDG. LATER THEY TOLD ME TO RPT TO THE ROBERTSON, CT FBO THAT THE TRANSPONDER WAS INTERMITTENT. IT WAS A RENTAL PLANE. THE WX BRIEF STATED POSSIBILITY OF TSTM AFTER XX00 PM. I SPENT TOO MUCH TIME LOOKING AT AND HOLDING A STRAIGHT COURSE AND NOT WHERE I WAS ON THAT COURSE. I SHOULD HAVE TRIANGULATED BY POS BEFORE I CONTACTED PHILADELPHIA APCH. I SHOULD HAVE HAD ALTERNATE ARPTS TO LAND AT IF THIS OCCURRED IN MY FLT PLAN.

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.