B737-300 flight crew has track heading deviation during the plains 3 departure due to WX.

Attributes
ACN	707352
Time
Date	200608
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	intersection : emmys
State Reference	CO
Altitude	msl single value : 16000
Environment
Weather Elements	Thunderstorm
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdv.artcc artcc : zzz.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-300
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	departure sid : plains3
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 90 flight time total : 10000 flight time type : 4500
ASRS Report	707352
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Experience	flight time total : 5000 flight time type : 700
ASRS Report	707468
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllerb
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : returned to intended or assigned course flight crew : returned to original clearance
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Weather ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	Ambiguous

Narrative:

Climbing out on the departure there were scattered build-ups covering the departure corridor. As we turned direct emmys it became apparent that a deviation for a large building area of convective activity was necessary. We had been cleared to FL290 and were passing through 16000 ft when the incident occurred. The frequency was very crowded and I could not get a transmission in prior to the deviation. We deviated approximately 10 degrees north of course for about 2 mins to go behind (upwind) of the build-up. I informed ATC when the frequency cleared. He immediately told me I needed to inform him prior to deviation and I told him that I was unable to do that due to radio chatter. He immediately informed me of traffic converging and assigned that traffic to stop their descent and we had our climb assignment amended. He again reiterated that we needed to inform him prior to deviation and I repeated we would do our best. We were back on course within 4-5 mins and we reclred to climb. We were not informed of separation loss; but ATC was clearly agitated.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737-300 FLT CREW HAS TRACK HDG DEV DURING THE PLAINS 3 DEP DUE TO WX.

Narrative: CLBING OUT ON THE DEP THERE WERE SCATTERED BUILD-UPS COVERING THE DEP CORRIDOR. AS WE TURNED DIRECT EMMYS IT BECAME APPARENT THAT A DEV FOR A LARGE BUILDING AREA OF CONVECTIVE ACTIVITY WAS NECESSARY. WE HAD BEEN CLRED TO FL290 AND WERE PASSING THROUGH 16000 FT WHEN THE INCIDENT OCCURRED. THE FREQ WAS VERY CROWDED AND I COULD NOT GET A XMISSION IN PRIOR TO THE DEV. WE DEVIATED APPROX 10 DEGS N OF COURSE FOR ABOUT 2 MINS TO GO BEHIND (UPWIND) OF THE BUILD-UP. I INFORMED ATC WHEN THE FREQ CLRED. HE IMMEDIATELY TOLD ME I NEEDED TO INFORM HIM PRIOR TO DEV AND I TOLD HIM THAT I WAS UNABLE TO DO THAT DUE TO RADIO CHATTER. HE IMMEDIATELY INFORMED ME OF TFC CONVERGING AND ASSIGNED THAT TFC TO STOP THEIR DSCNT AND WE HAD OUR CLB ASSIGNMENT AMENDED. HE AGAIN REITERATED THAT WE NEEDED TO INFORM HIM PRIOR TO DEV AND I REPEATED WE WOULD DO OUR BEST. WE WERE BACK ON COURSE WITHIN 4-5 MINS AND WE RECLRED TO CLB. WE WERE NOT INFORMED OF SEPARATION LOSS; BUT ATC WAS CLRLY AGITATED.

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.