Widebody transport misread chart and deviated off course.

Attributes
ACN	111602
Time
Date	198905
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : yrl
State Reference	ON
Altitude	msl bound lower : 31000 msl bound upper : 31000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : tuf
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Widebody, Low Wing, 4 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : direct enroute airway : czwg
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 13000 flight time type : 1000
ASRS Report	111602
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : second officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time total : 5000
ASRS Report	111171
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Chart Or Publication
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

En route chart ca (hi) 2; J513 wbound out of yrl. We put 296 degree in the course window instead of 303 degree and went 10 mi south of course when center noticed and cleared us direct yqd. We were flying INS to yrl and switched to VOR when we saw the right of course indication. Our mistake was in setting the wrong radio course in the window and believing it instead of the INS. Our excuse is that the VOR course (303 degree) is less noticeably printed than the ADF course which us pilots never use. 303 degree should be printed on the course line and (VOR courses) should be differentiated by color or size of printing from ADF airway courses.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: WDB MISREAD CHART AND DEVIATED OFF COURSE.

Narrative: ENRTE CHART CA (HI) 2; J513 WBOUND OUT OF YRL. WE PUT 296 DEG IN THE COURSE WINDOW INSTEAD OF 303 DEG AND WENT 10 MI S OF COURSE WHEN CENTER NOTICED AND CLRED US DIRECT YQD. WE WERE FLYING INS TO YRL AND SWITCHED TO VOR WHEN WE SAW THE RIGHT OF COURSE INDICATION. OUR MISTAKE WAS IN SETTING THE WRONG RADIO COURSE IN THE WINDOW AND BELIEVING IT INSTEAD OF THE INS. OUR EXCUSE IS THAT THE VOR COURSE (303 DEG) IS LESS NOTICEABLY PRINTED THAN THE ADF COURSE WHICH U.S. PLTS NEVER USE. 303 DEG SHOULD BE PRINTED ON THE COURSE LINE AND (VOR COURSES) SHOULD BE DIFFERENTIATED BY COLOR OR SIZE OF PRINTING FROM ADF AIRWAY COURSES.

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.