When ATC changed their clearance from direct to ocf; cleared for the piglt RNAV STAR to cleared to o...

Narrative:

I was pilot not flying; captain was pilot flying. We were originally cleared to mco via the PIGLT4 RNAV STAR; direct [to] ocf [thence via the ocf] transition. Shortly thereafter; we were re-cleared direct otk and remainder of piglt 4 arrival. After about 2-3 minutes; the controller inquired if we were direct to otk. Initially I replied we were but after review of our course; it did not quite make sense. The captain reprogrammed direct to otk which required a 15-20 degree heading change and resulted with otk as the only active waypoint. We had followed the normal verification process before the original execution; however; somehow the selection of several abeam points between our present position and otk resulted in a course error that went unnoticed.sometimes the selection of abeam points are so close together; it can cloud the actual 'cleared to' fix. A more thorough and careful review and verification on my part is essential!

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: When ATC changed their clearance from direct to OCF; cleared for the PIGLT RNAV STAR to cleared to OTK for the STAR the flight crew of a B737-800 failed to confirm their reprogramming of the FMC and a track deviation; caught by ATC; resulted.

Narrative: I was pilot not flying; Captain was pilot flying. We were originally cleared to MCO via the PIGLT4 RNAV STAR; direct [to] OCF [thence via the OCF] transition. Shortly thereafter; we were re-cleared direct OTK and remainder of PIGLT 4 arrival. After about 2-3 minutes; the Controller inquired if we were direct to OTK. Initially I replied we were but after review of our course; it did not quite make sense. The Captain reprogrammed direct to OTK which required a 15-20 degree heading change and resulted with OTK as the only active waypoint. We had followed the normal verification process before the original execution; however; somehow the selection of several abeam points between our present position and OTK resulted in a course error that went unnoticed.Sometimes the selection of abeam points are so close together; it can cloud the actual 'cleared to' fix. A more thorough and careful review and verification on my part is essential!

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2013 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.

Attributes
ACN	1057695
Time
Date	201212
Local Time Of Day	1201-1800
Place
Locale Reference	MCO.Airport
State Reference	FL
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	B737-800
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Descent
Route In Use	STAR PIGLT4
Flight Plan	IFR
Component
Aircraft Component	Autoflight System
Person 1
Function	First Officer
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Person 2
Function	Captain Pilot Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types Deviation - Procedural Clearance Deviation - Track / Heading All Types

When ATC changed their clearance from direct to ocf; cleared for the piglt RNAV STAR to cleared to otk for the STAR the flight crew of a B737-800 failed to confirm their reprogramming of the FMC and a track deviation; caught by ATC; resulted.