Low time pilot accidentally turned off receiver and flew toward a 'min reception altitude' area.

Attributes
ACN	192666
Time
Date	199110
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : abe
State Reference	PA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3000 msl bound upper : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : abe
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 25 flight time total : 465 flight time type : 125
ASRS Report	192666
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : overcame equipment problem
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Was being vectored outbound for turn to final approach course. Discovered audio panel switch had been accidentally set (or bumped) in wrong position. Reset and called ATC, they said had been calling to give vector inbound and as a result we flew into an mra area (I think that's what he said). ATC gave new vector inbound and a climb to 3500 MSL. Closer attention to inadvertent hand movements may have prevented this although we were very busy and in some 'chop' at the time. Also retaining a clear sense of where one is in relation to the approach without relying on ATC would have prevented the 'lost contact' from being too long.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: LOW TIME PLT ACCIDENTALLY TURNED OFF RECEIVER AND FLEW TOWARD A 'MIN RECEPTION ALT' AREA.

Narrative: WAS BEING VECTORED OUTBOUND FOR TURN TO FINAL APCH COURSE. DISCOVERED AUDIO PANEL SWITCH HAD BEEN ACCIDENTALLY SET (OR BUMPED) IN WRONG POS. RESET AND CALLED ATC, THEY SAID HAD BEEN CALLING TO GIVE VECTOR INBOUND AND AS A RESULT WE FLEW INTO AN MRA AREA (I THINK THAT'S WHAT HE SAID). ATC GAVE NEW VECTOR INBOUND AND A CLB TO 3500 MSL. CLOSER ATTN TO INADVERTENT HAND MOVEMENTS MAY HAVE PREVENTED THIS ALTHOUGH WE WERE VERY BUSY AND IN SOME 'CHOP' AT THE TIME. ALSO RETAINING A CLR SENSE OF WHERE ONE IS IN RELATION TO THE APCH WITHOUT RELYING ON ATC WOULD HAVE PREVENTED THE 'LOST CONTACT' FROM BEING TOO LONG.

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.