IFR PA38 en route to sac area is frustrated with ATC service.

Attributes
ACN	578693
Time
Date	200304
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	intersection : folly
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl single value : 5000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : nct.tracon tracon : nct.tracon
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	PA-38 Tomahawk
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Route In Use	enroute airway : v6.airway
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : atp pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 60 flight time total : 17000 flight time type : 400
ASRS Report	578693
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance Aircraft
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance

Narrative:

I departed oak on an IFR flight to 061 (cameron park). For most of the flight I was IMC at 5000 ft on V6. Several mi northeast of the sac VOR I was instructed to contact norcal approach on 127.4. I acknowledged the frequency change and attempted to contact norcal on 127.4. The frequency was relatively busy and I attempted to check-in. I called 4 times on 2 different radios (both excellent radios). I am very familiar with flight operations in the sac area. Flown in this area since 1991. I attempted contact on the previous frequency with no results. I returned quickly to 127.4. In an attempt to establish communications, I activated the xponders 'identify' feature. No results. I attempted contact 2 more times without establishing communications. I was still IMC and approaching my IFR clearance limit. I needed to descend to VFR/VMC conditions in order to cancel IFR and land VFR at 061 (no IAP). I squawked 7600 and, after approximately 3 mins, ATC finally called me and in a surly manner told me they were too busy to acknowledge my check-in. I believe that, because I was flying a tomahawk, ATC relegated my importance to the bottom of their pecking order. This has happened many times before and is a fact shared by other local GA pilots. ATC's cavalier attitude does not foster safety our mutual respect between pilots and controllers.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: IFR PA38 ENRTE TO SAC AREA IS FRUSTRATED WITH ATC SVC.

Narrative: I DEPARTED OAK ON AN IFR FLT TO 061 (CAMERON PARK). FOR MOST OF THE FLT I WAS IMC AT 5000 FT ON V6. SEVERAL MI NE OF THE SAC VOR I WAS INSTRUCTED TO CONTACT NORCAL APCH ON 127.4. I ACKNOWLEDGED THE FREQ CHANGE AND ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT NORCAL ON 127.4. THE FREQ WAS RELATIVELY BUSY AND I ATTEMPTED TO CHK-IN. I CALLED 4 TIMES ON 2 DIFFERENT RADIOS (BOTH EXCELLENT RADIOS). I AM VERY FAMILIAR WITH FLT OPS IN THE SAC AREA. FLOWN IN THIS AREA SINCE 1991. I ATTEMPTED CONTACT ON THE PREVIOUS FREQ WITH NO RESULTS. I RETURNED QUICKLY TO 127.4. IN AN ATTEMPT TO ESTABLISH COMS, I ACTIVATED THE XPONDERS 'IDENT' FEATURE. NO RESULTS. I ATTEMPTED CONTACT 2 MORE TIMES WITHOUT ESTABLISHING COMS. I WAS STILL IMC AND APCHING MY IFR CLRNC LIMIT. I NEEDED TO DSND TO VFR/VMC CONDITIONS IN ORDER TO CANCEL IFR AND LAND VFR AT 061 (NO IAP). I SQUAWKED 7600 AND, AFTER APPROX 3 MINS, ATC FINALLY CALLED ME AND IN A SURLY MANNER TOLD ME THEY WERE TOO BUSY TO ACKNOWLEDGE MY CHK-IN. I BELIEVE THAT, BECAUSE I WAS FLYING A TOMAHAWK, ATC RELEGATED MY IMPORTANCE TO THE BOTTOM OF THEIR PECKING ORDER. THIS HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES BEFORE AND IS A FACT SHARED BY OTHER LCL GA PLTS. ATC'S CAVALIER ATTITUDE DOES NOT FOSTER SAFETY OUR MUTUAL RESPECT BTWN PLTS AND CTLRS.

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.