A cessna 182 pilot lost radio contact while on an IMC radar vector toward high terrain near bur.

Attributes
ACN	449887
Time
Date	199909
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : bur.airport
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl single value : 5000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : sct.tracon tower : ebbr.tower
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : multi engine
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 10 flight time total : 450 flight time type : 300
ASRS Report	449887
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : took precautionary avoidance action
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Environmental Factor
Primary Problem	Environmental Factor

Narrative:

While being vectored at 5000 ft, 340 degree heading from burbank airport to vny ILS in IMC ATC neglected to issue lost communication instructions nor to inform us that radar contact was lost with us over high terrain, approaching north of umber where MVA was 6000 ft. We turned west on our own and switched from 120.4 to 134.2. Same fellow was working both frequencys. Radar contact was eventually restored and we landed at vny without incident. Someone was vectored into a mountain in the same area several yrs ago. I called socal TRACON and the quality assurance specialist agreed that turning west and changing frequencys was the right action. We both agreed that an rco or enhanced radar service in the area would considerably improve safety.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A CESSNA 182 PLT LOST RADIO CONTACT WHILE ON AN IMC RADAR VECTOR TOWARD HIGH TERRAIN NEAR BUR.

Narrative: WHILE BEING VECTORED AT 5000 FT, 340 DEG HDG FROM BURBANK ARPT TO VNY ILS IN IMC ATC NEGLECTED TO ISSUE LOST COM INSTRUCTIONS NOR TO INFORM US THAT RADAR CONTACT WAS LOST WITH US OVER HIGH TERRAIN, APCHING N OF UMBER WHERE MVA WAS 6000 FT. WE TURNED W ON OUR OWN AND SWITCHED FROM 120.4 TO 134.2. SAME FELLOW WAS WORKING BOTH FREQS. RADAR CONTACT WAS EVENTUALLY RESTORED AND WE LANDED AT VNY WITHOUT INCIDENT. SOMEONE WAS VECTORED INTO A MOUNTAIN IN THE SAME AREA SEVERAL YRS AGO. I CALLED SOCAL TRACON AND THE QUALITY ASSURANCE SPECIALIST AGREED THAT TURNING W AND CHANGING FREQS WAS THE RIGHT ACTION. WE BOTH AGREED THAT AN RCO OR ENHANCED RADAR SVC IN THE AREA WOULD CONSIDERABLY IMPROVE SAFETY.

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.