Navigation error heading deviation.

Attributes
ACN	100852
Time
Date	198812
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : chs
State Reference	SC
Altitude	msl bound lower : 33000 msl bound upper : 33000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zjx artcc : zdc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 210 flight time total : 6000 flight time type : 1000
ASRS Report	100852
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Just south of chs, ATC cleared us direct norfolk. I entered the latitude/long for orf and engaged the navigation unit for navigation. Perhaps 50 NM, ATC asked us which point we were proceeding to. I entered a latitude of N39... Instead of N36... Phl, our destination was N39.... A 20 degree right turn was necessary to proceed correctly. In spite of double-checking, I still missed the error. The navigation unit leaves endless opportunity for programmer error. Be careful -- real careful.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: NAVIGATION ERROR HEADING DEVIATION.

Narrative: JUST SOUTH OF CHS, ATC CLRED US DIRECT NORFOLK. I ENTERED THE LAT/LONG FOR ORF AND ENGAGED THE NAV UNIT FOR NAVIGATION. PERHAPS 50 NM, ATC ASKED US WHICH POINT WE WERE PROCEEDING TO. I ENTERED A LAT OF N39... INSTEAD OF N36... PHL, OUR DEST WAS N39.... A 20 DEG RIGHT TURN WAS NECESSARY TO PROCEED CORRECTLY. IN SPITE OF DOUBLE-CHECKING, I STILL MISSED THE ERROR. THE NAV UNIT LEAVES ENDLESS OPPORTUNITY FOR PROGRAMMER ERROR. BE CAREFUL -- REAL CAREFUL.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 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.