Narrative:

IFR business trip to fdk on the morning of sep/thu/06. 1.5 hours out of I66 (70 NM west of fdk) ZDC modified the clearance from mrb direct fdk to mrb V166 EMI radar vectors fdk. Nexrad WX radar data in the cockpit showed significant level 3 activity at EMI. Storm scope had no strikes. In order to avoid the turbulence and potential ill effects of level 3 activity (amplified by distant vision across tops to towering cumulus in the distance coincident with level 3 on nexrad to approximately FL200-FL250) I requested an alternative clearance. ZDC controller allowed me to continue inbound and 'take it up' with potomac TRACON. Potomac TRACON absolutely refused an alternative clearance despite my suggestions of holding at mrb and/or proceeding from mrb to GPS 5 at fdk. Allegedly; her supervisor said I had to take the clearance into the shower activity; adding that he apparently saw no WX on his radar. In my opinion; the inflexibility of potomac TRACON in dealing with pilots inbound from the west to fdk is going to get someone killed. They need to develop some alternative procedures when WX makes their only current plan dicey.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A PLT RPTS FLYING TOWARD LEVEL 3 TSTM ACTIVITY UPON ENTERING THE POTOMAC ADIZ. ATC WOULD NOT ALLOW DEV AROUND THE WX.

Narrative: IFR BUSINESS TRIP TO FDK ON THE MORNING OF SEP/THU/06. 1.5 HRS OUT OF I66 (70 NM W OF FDK) ZDC MODIFIED THE CLRNC FROM MRB DIRECT FDK TO MRB V166 EMI RADAR VECTORS FDK. NEXRAD WX RADAR DATA IN THE COCKPIT SHOWED SIGNIFICANT LEVEL 3 ACTIVITY AT EMI. STORM SCOPE HAD NO STRIKES. IN ORDER TO AVOID THE TURB AND POTENTIAL ILL EFFECTS OF LEVEL 3 ACTIVITY (AMPLIFIED BY DISTANT VISION ACROSS TOPS TO TOWERING CUMULUS IN THE DISTANCE COINCIDENT WITH LEVEL 3 ON NEXRAD TO APPROX FL200-FL250) I REQUESTED AN ALTERNATIVE CLRNC. ZDC CTLR ALLOWED ME TO CONTINUE INBOUND AND 'TAKE IT UP' WITH POTOMAC TRACON. POTOMAC TRACON ABSOLUTELY REFUSED AN ALTERNATIVE CLRNC DESPITE MY SUGGESTIONS OF HOLDING AT MRB AND/OR PROCEEDING FROM MRB TO GPS 5 AT FDK. ALLEGEDLY; HER SUPVR SAID I HAD TO TAKE THE CLRNC INTO THE SHOWER ACTIVITY; ADDING THAT HE APPARENTLY SAW NO WX ON HIS RADAR. IN MY OPINION; THE INFLEXIBILITY OF POTOMAC TRACON IN DEALING WITH PLTS INBOUND FROM THE W TO FDK IS GOING TO GET SOMEONE KILLED. THEY NEED TO DEVELOP SOME ALTERNATIVE PROCS WHEN WX MAKES THEIR ONLY CURRENT PLAN DICEY.

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.