Air carrier flight crew deviated for WX in absence of ATC clearance.

Attributes
ACN	309550
Time
Date	199507
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : dca
State Reference	DC
Altitude	msl bound lower : 11000 msl bound upper : 11000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : dca
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-80 Super 80
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
ASRS Report	309550
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Weather
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

Flight XXXX departed dca sbound en route to ord. On initial contact with departure control flight was given a right turn to 330 degrees and climb to 11000 ft. Departure control was advised that on that heading severe thunderstorms would be encountered at 12 O'clock and about 25 mi and we required deviation either left or right, his choice. His response was 'roger.' deviation was twice again requested with the same response. At this point with WX directly ahead at 5-7 mi he was told of our intent to turn left 45 degrees. His response was 'I didn't approve any deviation -- contact dulles approach on XXX.xx!' upon contact with dulles, they were advised of our deviation and their response was 'deviation approved.' this is a clear case of the use of captain's authority/authorized to safely conduct flight around severe thunderstorms following controller's inability to take action when requested.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR FLC DEVIATED FOR WX IN ABSENCE OF ATC CLRNC.

Narrative: FLT XXXX DEPARTED DCA SBOUND ENRTE TO ORD. ON INITIAL CONTACT WITH DEP CTL FLT WAS GIVEN A R TURN TO 330 DEGS AND CLB TO 11000 FT. DEP CTL WAS ADVISED THAT ON THAT HDG SEVERE TSTMS WOULD BE ENCOUNTERED AT 12 O'CLOCK AND ABOUT 25 MI AND WE REQUIRED DEV EITHER L OR R, HIS CHOICE. HIS RESPONSE WAS 'ROGER.' DEV WAS TWICE AGAIN REQUESTED WITH THE SAME RESPONSE. AT THIS POINT WITH WX DIRECTLY AHEAD AT 5-7 MI HE WAS TOLD OF OUR INTENT TO TURN L 45 DEGS. HIS RESPONSE WAS 'I DIDN'T APPROVE ANY DEV -- CONTACT DULLES APCH ON XXX.XX!' UPON CONTACT WITH DULLES, THEY WERE ADVISED OF OUR DEV AND THEIR RESPONSE WAS 'DEV APPROVED.' THIS IS A CLR CASE OF THE USE OF CAPT'S AUTH TO SAFELY CONDUCT FLT AROUND SEVERE TSTMS FOLLOWING CTLR'S INABILITY TO TAKE ACTION WHEN REQUESTED.

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.