Pilot of small transport cargo flight has communication problem when ATC allows him to go off freque...

Attributes
ACN	405110
Time
Date	199806
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : ckv
State Reference	TN
Altitude	msl bound lower : 7000 msl bound upper : 7000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zme
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 30 flight time total : 25000 flight time type : 12000
ASRS Report	405110
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

Flying at cruise on an IFR flight plan, we initiated communication with the controller, primarily as a radio check because it had been so quiet. It took 2 or 3 attempts for the controller to answer. We were about to check the WX, but were going to wait until we had changed frequencys, assuming it should be at any time. After a few more mins, we went ahead and asked permission to drop off the frequency to get WX from flight watch. The controller granted permission, but wanted us to report back on a different frequency but he didn't know which frequency. He told us to stand by and then came back with the new frequency. We briefly spoke with flight watch on 122.0 and then came up on the new frequency. The controller advised us that we had just flown through an active restr area. He indicated that they had attempted contact with us on several frequencys and that we had missed a frequency change. He advised us that there was live artillery fire up to 4000 ft, but that we had not caused a problem. He did state that it was our responsibility to avoid flying into that airspace. We were operating on an IFR clearance and were in constant communication with ATC.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT OF SMT CARGO FLT HAS COM PROB WHEN ATC ALLOWS HIM TO GO OFF FREQ TO OBTAIN WX BUT RETURN ON A DIFFERENT FREQ. WHILE OFF FREQ HE ENTERS A HOT RESTR AREA. HE IS ON AN IFR FLT PLAN.

Narrative: FLYING AT CRUISE ON AN IFR FLT PLAN, WE INITIATED COM WITH THE CTLR, PRIMARILY AS A RADIO CHK BECAUSE IT HAD BEEN SO QUIET. IT TOOK 2 OR 3 ATTEMPTS FOR THE CTLR TO ANSWER. WE WERE ABOUT TO CHK THE WX, BUT WERE GOING TO WAIT UNTIL WE HAD CHANGED FREQS, ASSUMING IT SHOULD BE AT ANY TIME. AFTER A FEW MORE MINS, WE WENT AHEAD AND ASKED PERMISSION TO DROP OFF THE FREQ TO GET WX FROM FLT WATCH. THE CTLR GRANTED PERMISSION, BUT WANTED US TO RPT BACK ON A DIFFERENT FREQ BUT HE DIDN'T KNOW WHICH FREQ. HE TOLD US TO STAND BY AND THEN CAME BACK WITH THE NEW FREQ. WE BRIEFLY SPOKE WITH FLT WATCH ON 122.0 AND THEN CAME UP ON THE NEW FREQ. THE CTLR ADVISED US THAT WE HAD JUST FLOWN THROUGH AN ACTIVE RESTR AREA. HE INDICATED THAT THEY HAD ATTEMPTED CONTACT WITH US ON SEVERAL FREQS AND THAT WE HAD MISSED A FREQ CHANGE. HE ADVISED US THAT THERE WAS LIVE ARTILLERY FIRE UP TO 4000 FT, BUT THAT WE HAD NOT CAUSED A PROB. HE DID STATE THAT IT WAS OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO AVOID FLYING INTO THAT AIRSPACE. WE WERE OPERATING ON AN IFR CLRNC AND WERE IN CONSTANT COM WITH ATC.

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.

Pilot of small transport cargo flight has communication problem when ATC allows him to go off frequency to obtain WX but return on a different frequency. While off frequency he enters a hot restr area. He is on an IFR flight plan.