A320 flight crew at FL290 with ZOA entered military restr airspace during WX avoidance maneuvers.

Attributes
ACN	628031
Time
Date	200408
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : oal.vortac
State Reference	NV
Altitude	msl single value : 29000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Weather Elements	Thunderstorm
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zla.artcc artcc : zoa.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	A320
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
ASRS Report	628031
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
ASRS Report	628029
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took precautionary avoidance action
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Weather Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Weather

Narrative:

We departed rno expecting cumulonimbus only in the rno area. Clearance is to join J92 south of fmg. Due to numerous cumulonimbus, we were unable to join J92. Well before oal, we ask for a left turn for WX, and it is approved. Initially we were cleared to FL330, but it was amended to FL290. While waiting to get higher, we were being forced to fly further east of J92. Approaching oal, and still unable to rejoin J92, the controller asked us to turn right to avoid nellis AFB airspace. I tell him we are unable due to cumulonimbus off our right. As soon as we could, we turned to rejoin J92. ZLA later passes along to call ZOA. I call on the ground at destination. The supervisor explains that the controller didn't see enough WX on his screen to explain why we couldn't turn. I explain that the WX was significant and that we turned when we could. The supervisor thanked me for my input, and said that no other paperwork would be filed and that the case was closed. There was no conflict with any other aircraft.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A320 FLT CREW AT FL290 WITH ZOA ENTERED MIL RESTR AIRSPACE DURING WX AVOIDANCE MANEUVERS.

Narrative: WE DEPARTED RNO EXPECTING CUMULONIMBUS ONLY IN THE RNO AREA. CLRNC IS TO JOIN J92 S OF FMG. DUE TO NUMEROUS CUMULONIMBUS, WE WERE UNABLE TO JOIN J92. WELL BEFORE OAL, WE ASK FOR A L TURN FOR WX, AND IT IS APPROVED. INITIALLY WE WERE CLRED TO FL330, BUT IT WAS AMENDED TO FL290. WHILE WAITING TO GET HIGHER, WE WERE BEING FORCED TO FLY FURTHER E OF J92. APCHING OAL, AND STILL UNABLE TO REJOIN J92, THE CTLR ASKED US TO TURN R TO AVOID NELLIS AFB AIRSPACE. I TELL HIM WE ARE UNABLE DUE TO CUMULONIMBUS OFF OUR R. AS SOON AS WE COULD, WE TURNED TO REJOIN J92. ZLA LATER PASSES ALONG TO CALL ZOA. I CALL ON THE GND AT DEST. THE SUPVR EXPLAINS THAT THE CTLR DIDN'T SEE ENOUGH WX ON HIS SCREEN TO EXPLAIN WHY WE COULDN'T TURN. I EXPLAIN THAT THE WX WAS SIGNIFICANT AND THAT WE TURNED WHEN WE COULD. THE SUPVR THANKED ME FOR MY INPUT, AND SAID THAT NO OTHER PAPERWORK WOULD BE FILED AND THAT THE CASE WAS CLOSED. THERE WAS NO CONFLICT WITH ANY OTHER ACFT.

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.