37000 Feet | Browse and search NASA's Aviation Safety Reporting System |
|
Attributes | |
ACN | 701149 |
Time | |
Date | 200606 |
Local Time Of Day | 1201 To 1800 |
Place | |
Locale Reference | atc facility : mmzt.artcc |
State Reference | FO |
Altitude | msl single value : 24000 |
Environment | |
Flight Conditions | VMC |
Light | Daylight |
Aircraft 1 | |
Controlling Facilities | artcc : mmzt.artcc |
Operator | general aviation : personal |
Make Model Name | Super King Air 200 HDC |
Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
Flight Phase | cruise : level |
Route In Use | enroute airway : v459.airway |
Flight Plan | IFR |
Person 1 | |
Affiliation | other |
Function | flight crew : single pilot |
Qualification | pilot : cfi pilot : atp |
Experience | flight time last 90 days : 54 flight time total : 5310 flight time type : 500 |
ASRS Report | 701149 |
Person 2 | |
Affiliation | government : foreign |
Function | controller : radar |
Events | |
Anomaly | aircraft equipment problem : less severe altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure |
Independent Detector | other flight crewa |
Resolutory Action | controller : issued new clearance flight crew : overcame equipment problem |
Consequence | faa : reviewed incident with flight crew |
Supplementary | |
Problem Areas | Aircraft Flight Crew Human Performance |
Primary Problem | Flight Crew Human Performance |
Narrative:
I was returning to the united states via UJ9 from mmlp (la paz) to kcxl (calexico) at FL240. There was a thin overcast layer at FL250 and scattered thunderstorm in socal and northern baja. About 45 mins prior to our arrival in the united states; I lost communications with mazatlan center. I tried all 3 frequencys for them with no response. I did not hear any other aircraft either. I attempted mazatlan on 121.5 with no reply. At that time I entered 7600 in my transponder. I also had to start down to maintain VMC and to make kcxl at the proper time. I reported this in the 'blind' on 121.5. At that time an airliner called me and asked if they could relay a message to mazatlan. I said yes and started to give him the information. Then ZLA called and said that they were already talking with mazatlan and gave me a new frequency to try. I reached mazatlan as I passed through FL270 (approximately). The controller was very angry and asked me who approved my descent. Told him that I couldn't reach anyone and that I had to start down for kcxl and to remain VMC for lost communication. He cleared me down to 10000 ft (I think) and told me to contact mexicali approach control; which I did. Mexicali said that they had a message from mazatlan that they had a phone number they want me to call once on the ground. I was instructed to ask for a supervisor. After clearing customs in kcxl; I called several times and got only a busy signal. I flew home to kcma (camarillo) 45 mins and called again several times. I finally got through; was xferred to someone who spoke english; but was not a supervisor. He said he would give my name and tail number to the supervisor when he returned.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: KING AIR B200 PLT HAS LOST COM WHILE ENRTE MMLP TO KCXL.
Narrative: I WAS RETURNING TO THE UNITED STATES VIA UJ9 FROM MMLP (LA PAZ) TO KCXL (CALEXICO) AT FL240. THERE WAS A THIN OVCST LAYER AT FL250 AND SCATTERED TSTM IN SOCAL AND NORTHERN BAJA. ABOUT 45 MINS PRIOR TO OUR ARR IN THE UNITED STATES; I LOST COMS WITH MAZATLAN CTR. I TRIED ALL 3 FREQS FOR THEM WITH NO RESPONSE. I DID NOT HEAR ANY OTHER ACFT EITHER. I ATTEMPTED MAZATLAN ON 121.5 WITH NO REPLY. AT THAT TIME I ENTERED 7600 IN MY XPONDER. I ALSO HAD TO START DOWN TO MAINTAIN VMC AND TO MAKE KCXL AT THE PROPER TIME. I RPTED THIS IN THE 'BLIND' ON 121.5. AT THAT TIME AN AIRLINER CALLED ME AND ASKED IF THEY COULD RELAY A MESSAGE TO MAZATLAN. I SAID YES AND STARTED TO GIVE HIM THE INFO. THEN ZLA CALLED AND SAID THAT THEY WERE ALREADY TALKING WITH MAZATLAN AND GAVE ME A NEW FREQ TO TRY. I REACHED MAZATLAN AS I PASSED THROUGH FL270 (APPROX). THE CTLR WAS VERY ANGRY AND ASKED ME WHO APPROVED MY DSCNT. TOLD HIM THAT I COULDN'T REACH ANYONE AND THAT I HAD TO START DOWN FOR KCXL AND TO REMAIN VMC FOR LOST COM. HE CLRED ME DOWN TO 10000 FT (I THINK) AND TOLD ME TO CONTACT MEXICALI APCH CTL; WHICH I DID. MEXICALI SAID THAT THEY HAD A MESSAGE FROM MAZATLAN THAT THEY HAD A PHONE NUMBER THEY WANT ME TO CALL ONCE ON THE GND. I WAS INSTRUCTED TO ASK FOR A SUPVR. AFTER CLRING CUSTOMS IN KCXL; I CALLED SEVERAL TIMES AND GOT ONLY A BUSY SIGNAL. I FLEW HOME TO KCMA (CAMARILLO) 45 MINS AND CALLED AGAIN SEVERAL TIMES. I FINALLY GOT THROUGH; WAS XFERRED TO SOMEONE WHO SPOKE ENGLISH; BUT WAS NOT A SUPVR. HE SAID HE WOULD GIVE MY NAME AND TAIL NUMBER TO THE SUPVR WHEN HE RETURNED.
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.