Narrative:

Nearing a small cell on our route, first officer and I decided deviation would be unnecessary as thunderstorm was diminishing and we would safely overly it. As we neared it, however (10-15 mi), we observed lightning from the cell, both laterally and vertically. This caused us to decide to deviate approximately 10 degrees right as bulk of cell was to our left and only a small jog to the right (1-2 mi) would be sufficient to clear it. We began our turn (first officer flying on autoplt) to the right and I attempted to advise ZAB. Frequency was very congested however and I was unable to break in. I tried 2 xmissions in the over 2 mins of non stop frequency traffic. Both caused blocked xmissions of other aircraft. By this time, we had established ourselves on a heading to reintercept our initial course. It was at this time, center said, 'turn left on course. Right deviation unable.' those were pretty close to his exact words. I acknowledged with 'roger' and there was no further mention by either of us (self or center) regarding our deviation. Upon reflection of this situation, I cannot see what I could have done differently. I completely understood the controller's need to be aware of what I was doing and tried whole- heartedly to communicate my actions to him. It was simply too congested to do that.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: DUE TO FREQ CONGESTION, FLC OF A B757-200 WERE UNABLE TO NOTIFY ATC OF THEIR NEED TO DEVIATE AROUND TSTMS RESULTING IN ATC INTERVENTION JUST AS THEY WERE HEADING BACK TO REJOIN THE AIRWAY.

Narrative: NEARING A SMALL CELL ON OUR RTE, FO AND I DECIDED DEV WOULD BE UNNECESSARY AS TSTM WAS DIMINISHING AND WE WOULD SAFELY OVERLY IT. AS WE NEARED IT, HOWEVER (10-15 MI), WE OBSERVED LIGHTNING FROM THE CELL, BOTH LATERALLY AND VERTLY. THIS CAUSED US TO DECIDE TO DEVIATE APPROX 10 DEGS R AS BULK OF CELL WAS TO OUR L AND ONLY A SMALL JOG TO THE R (1-2 MI) WOULD BE SUFFICIENT TO CLR IT. WE BEGAN OUR TURN (FO FLYING ON AUTOPLT) TO THE R AND I ATTEMPTED TO ADVISE ZAB. FREQ WAS VERY CONGESTED HOWEVER AND I WAS UNABLE TO BREAK IN. I TRIED 2 XMISSIONS IN THE OVER 2 MINS OF NON STOP FREQ TFC. BOTH CAUSED BLOCKED XMISSIONS OF OTHER ACFT. BY THIS TIME, WE HAD ESTABLISHED OURSELVES ON A HEADING TO REINTERCEPT OUR INITIAL COURSE. IT WAS AT THIS TIME, CTR SAID, 'TURN L ON COURSE. R DEV UNABLE.' THOSE WERE PRETTY CLOSE TO HIS EXACT WORDS. I ACKNOWLEDGED WITH 'ROGER' AND THERE WAS NO FURTHER MENTION BY EITHER OF US (SELF OR CTR) REGARDING OUR DEV. UPON REFLECTION OF THIS SIT, I CANNOT SEE WHAT I COULD HAVE DONE DIFFERENTLY. I COMPLETELY UNDERSTOOD THE CTLR'S NEED TO BE AWARE OF WHAT I WAS DOING AND TRIED WHOLE- HEARTEDLY TO COMMUNICATE MY ACTIONS TO HIM. IT WAS SIMPLY TOO CONGESTED TO DO THAT.

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.