Narrative:

West of wauchula; fl; at 2000 ft MSL; I contacted tpa approach on 119.65 at 19 DME while tracking the 085 degree radial (heading 265 degrees) to the srq VORTAC. Procedure calls for contacting approach within 20 NM of class C airspace. The conversation was approximately as follows: pilot: tampa approach cessna nxxxxx 20 mi east of srq with ATIS information landing srq. After dealing with other calls ATC came back with 'aircraft calling say again.' I repeated the initial transmission. ATC: cessna nxxxxx squawk 1234 and expect vectors to runway 14. Pilot: 1234 and vectors to runway 4 (misheard runway). ATC: that's runway 14. Pilot: ok runway 14 for cessna nxxxxx. ATC: nxxxxx say type cessna. Pilot: 152. Turned out to be my only conversation with ATC. Concerned I had not heard my n-number at 3 mi from srq; I called to ask when I might expect vectors. No response. On reaching the gulf coast of longboat key; I tried again several times. No response. All this time the frequency was very busy. Now I was heading out into the gulf of mexico and suspecting a bad microphone/transmitter (but curiously; had still had not heard my n-number). I decided to descend to 1100 ft to get below the class C airspace (I was beyond 5 mi DME) and squawked VFR 1200. Eventually; I decided to return to venice flying below 1200 ft and on calling venice for a runway advisory received a transmission from them loud and clear; which resolved the mile issue unless there was an intermittent problem. Not once after the initial contact 20 mi out; did I hear my n-number. I could hear clearly all xmissions from ATC to other aircraft. I think the controller forgot about me with the heavy workload.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: C152 INBOUND TO SRQ EXPERIENCED RADIO LOSS WITH TPA TRACON AFTER RECEIVING BEACON CODE ASSIGNMENT.

Narrative: W OF WAUCHULA; FL; AT 2000 FT MSL; I CONTACTED TPA APCH ON 119.65 AT 19 DME WHILE TRACKING THE 085 DEG RADIAL (HDG 265 DEGS) TO THE SRQ VORTAC. PROC CALLS FOR CONTACTING APCH WITHIN 20 NM OF CLASS C AIRSPACE. THE CONVERSATION WAS APPROX AS FOLLOWS: PLT: TAMPA APCH CESSNA NXXXXX 20 MI E OF SRQ WITH ATIS INFO LNDG SRQ. AFTER DEALING WITH OTHER CALLS ATC CAME BACK WITH 'ACFT CALLING SAY AGAIN.' I REPEATED THE INITIAL XMISSION. ATC: CESSNA NXXXXX SQUAWK 1234 AND EXPECT VECTORS TO RWY 14. PLT: 1234 AND VECTORS TO RWY 4 (MISHEARD RWY). ATC: THAT'S RWY 14. PLT: OK RWY 14 FOR CESSNA NXXXXX. ATC: NXXXXX SAY TYPE CESSNA. PLT: 152. TURNED OUT TO BE MY ONLY CONVERSATION WITH ATC. CONCERNED I HAD NOT HEARD MY N-NUMBER AT 3 MI FROM SRQ; I CALLED TO ASK WHEN I MIGHT EXPECT VECTORS. NO RESPONSE. ON REACHING THE GULF COAST OF LONGBOAT KEY; I TRIED AGAIN SEVERAL TIMES. NO RESPONSE. ALL THIS TIME THE FREQ WAS VERY BUSY. NOW I WAS HEADING OUT INTO THE GULF OF MEXICO AND SUSPECTING A BAD MIKE/XMITTER (BUT CURIOUSLY; HAD STILL HAD NOT HEARD MY N-NUMBER). I DECIDED TO DSND TO 1100 FT TO GET BELOW THE CLASS C AIRSPACE (I WAS BEYOND 5 MI DME) AND SQUAWKED VFR 1200. EVENTUALLY; I DECIDED TO RETURN TO VENICE FLYING BELOW 1200 FT AND ON CALLING VENICE FOR A RWY ADVISORY RECEIVED A XMISSION FROM THEM LOUD AND CLR; WHICH RESOLVED THE MILE ISSUE UNLESS THERE WAS AN INTERMITTENT PROB. NOT ONCE AFTER THE INITIAL CONTACT 20 MI OUT; DID I HEAR MY N-NUMBER. I COULD HEAR CLRLY ALL XMISSIONS FROM ATC TO OTHER ACFT. I THINK THE CTLR FORGOT ABOUT ME WITH THE HVY WORKLOAD.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.