Light aircraft on an IFR flight plan diverted to pfn account of WX and restr airspace.

Attributes
ACN	424917
Time
Date	199812
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : vps
State Reference	FL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 10000 msl bound upper : 10000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors enroute : direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 50 flight time total : 600 flight time type : 350
ASRS Report	424917
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera other other : unspecified cockpit
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

Due to level 3-4 rainstorms over coast of florida while on IFR flight plan from pie to npa, I requested southern deviation south of R-2914B to avoid WX. Tyndall MOA cleared south deviation over the coast to npa. Once given a heading of 270 degrees and advised to contact eglin AFB, I contacted eglin with heading. Eglin acknowledged me and stated no southern deviations. Eglin was also contending with a military emergency at the time and no longer spoke to me. Once directly south of the WX, eglin called me to reiterate 'no south deviations' I advised my heading of 270 degrees and the controller demanded that I immediately turn to 360 degrees. I reluctantly turned into the WX and had to make an immediate landing at panama city due to the WX extending up to the north 800 mi. The lack of communication leading up to a low option turn into known WX, was very intimidating considering sanctions that could be imposed.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: LIGHT ACFT ON AN IFR FLT PLAN DIVERTED TO PFN ACCOUNT OF WX AND RESTR AIRSPACE.

Narrative: DUE TO LEVEL 3-4 RAINSTORMS OVER COAST OF FLORIDA WHILE ON IFR FLT PLAN FROM PIE TO NPA, I REQUESTED SOUTHERN DEV S OF R-2914B TO AVOID WX. TYNDALL MOA CLRED S DEV OVER THE COAST TO NPA. ONCE GIVEN A HDG OF 270 DEGS AND ADVISED TO CONTACT EGLIN AFB, I CONTACTED EGLIN WITH HEADING. EGLIN ACKNOWLEDGED ME AND STATED NO SOUTHERN DEVS. EGLIN WAS ALSO CONTENDING WITH A MIL EMER AT THE TIME AND NO LONGER SPOKE TO ME. ONCE DIRECTLY S OF THE WX, EGLIN CALLED ME TO REITERATE 'NO S DEVS' I ADVISED MY HDG OF 270 DEGS AND THE CTLR DEMANDED THAT I IMMEDIATELY TURN TO 360 DEGS. I RELUCTANTLY TURNED INTO THE WX AND HAD TO MAKE AN IMMEDIATE LNDG AT PANAMA CITY DUE TO THE WX EXTENDING UP TO THE N 800 MI. THE LACK OF COM LEADING UP TO A LOW OPTION TURN INTO KNOWN WX, WAS VERY INTIMIDATING CONSIDERING SANCTIONS THAT COULD BE IMPOSED.

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.