Air carrier deviates around WX on final approach to atl.

Attributes
ACN	476110
Time
Date	200006
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : atl.airport
State Reference	GA
Altitude	msl single value : 4000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC IMC
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : atl.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	DC-9 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	ils localizer & glide slope : 26r
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : instrument precision arrival star : macy.2
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : flight engineer pilot : cfi pilot : atp pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 30 flight time total : 10000 flight time type : 4000
ASRS Report	476110
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : commercial pilot : flight engineer pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 10700 flight time type : 500
ASRS Report	476113
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllerb other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance other
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Weather Flight Crew Human Performance ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	Weather

Narrative:

On vectors for arrival on the atl runway 26R approach, we were cleared to 4000 ft at 180 KTS. Clearance was given to turn right heading 240 degrees and join the runway 26R localizer. Rain shaft estimated to be 3 mi in diameter observed visually on runway 26R localizer course. Captain requested right deviation to avoid the shaft. Final controller denied request due to traffic. We elected to remain on a 240 degree heading to avoid a potentially hazardous WX phenomena. We tried to let the controller aware of our intentions, but the frequency was completely congested. The controller noticed we were slightly left (south) of the runway 26R localizer course. He queried our intentions and we told him we were deviating around the rain shaft and would join the final when we got around it. We tried to tell him earlier but we couldn't get a word in. We were at the southernmost point on 1 1/2 dots off the approach centerline. He issued a 290 degree heading to rejoin and then cleared us for the approach. Captain called TRACON supervisor and was told that we encroached the runway 27L final approach course.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR DEVIATES AROUND WX ON FINAL APCH TO ATL.

Narrative: ON VECTORS FOR ARR ON THE ATL RWY 26R APCH, WE WERE CLRED TO 4000 FT AT 180 KTS. CLRNC WAS GIVEN TO TURN R HEADING 240 DEGS AND JOIN THE RWY 26R LOC. RAIN SHAFT ESTIMATED TO BE 3 MI IN DIAMETER OBSERVED VISUALLY ON RWY 26R LOC COURSE. CAPT REQUESTED R DEV TO AVOID THE SHAFT. FINAL CTLR DENIED REQUEST DUE TO TFC. WE ELECTED TO REMAIN ON A 240 DEG HDG TO AVOID A POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS WX PHENOMENA. WE TRIED TO LET THE CTLR AWARE OF OUR INTENTIONS, BUT THE FREQ WAS COMPLETELY CONGESTED. THE CTLR NOTICED WE WERE SLIGHTLY L (S) OF THE RWY 26R LOC COURSE. HE QUERIED OUR INTENTIONS AND WE TOLD HIM WE WERE DEVIATING AROUND THE RAIN SHAFT AND WOULD JOIN THE FINAL WHEN WE GOT AROUND IT. WE TRIED TO TELL HIM EARLIER BUT WE COULDN'T GET A WORD IN. WE WERE AT THE SOUTHERNMOST POINT ON 1 1/2 DOTS OFF THE APCH CTRLINE. HE ISSUED A 290 DEG HDG TO REJOIN AND THEN CLRED US FOR THE APCH. CAPT CALLED TRACON SUPVR AND WAS TOLD THAT WE ENCROACHED THE RWY 27L FINAL APCH COURSE.

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.