Track error. Flight off course in descent.

Attributes
ACN	119818
Time
Date	198908
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : ott
State Reference	MD
Altitude	msl bound lower : 18000 msl bound upper : 18000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	arrival other arrival star : star
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : commercial pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 210 flight time total : 2600 flight time type : 550
ASRS Report	119818
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 140 flight time total : 15000
ASRS Report	119669
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : published procedure other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

During descent on dupont arrival, ZDC called and said we were 6.5 mi north of nottingham. We were at 340 KIAS and 3000 FPM sink rate descending from 18,000 to 10,000'. The sky was clear and there was no other traffic. We corrected back to course using 10 degree aob as prescribed by company procedures when above 10,000'. During this descent we were required to: 1) talk to the passenger. 2) complete descent checklist (5 items). 3) complete approach checklist (7 items). 4) brief approach plate (8 items). 5) tune and identify 2 vors. 6) place 2 courses inbound and outbnd. The dupont approach should be looked at closely to see if it is a good approach with so many turns and such short distances required. We weren't ever far from the approach plates departure course and yet the controller seemed concerned. If there was an error it was unintentional and safety was never a factor as there was no reported traffic and it was VFR with unlimited visibility. Our instruments never showed us anywhere near 6.5 mi off course.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: TRACK ERROR. FLT OFF COURSE IN DESCENT.

Narrative: DURING DSCNT ON DUPONT ARR, ZDC CALLED AND SAID WE WERE 6.5 MI N OF NOTTINGHAM. WE WERE AT 340 KIAS AND 3000 FPM SINK RATE DESCENDING FROM 18,000 TO 10,000'. THE SKY WAS CLEAR AND THERE WAS NO OTHER TFC. WE CORRECTED BACK TO COURSE USING 10 DEG AOB AS PRESCRIBED BY COMPANY PROCS WHEN ABOVE 10,000'. DURING THIS DSCNT WE WERE REQUIRED TO: 1) TALK TO THE PAX. 2) COMPLETE DSCNT CHECKLIST (5 ITEMS). 3) COMPLETE APCH CHECKLIST (7 ITEMS). 4) BRIEF APCH PLATE (8 ITEMS). 5) TUNE AND IDENTIFY 2 VORS. 6) PLACE 2 COURSES INBND AND OUTBND. THE DUPONT APCH SHOULD BE LOOKED AT CLOSELY TO SEE IF IT IS A GOOD APCH WITH SO MANY TURNS AND SUCH SHORT DISTANCES REQUIRED. WE WEREN'T EVER FAR FROM THE APCH PLATES DEP COURSE AND YET THE CTLR SEEMED CONCERNED. IF THERE WAS AN ERROR IT WAS UNINTENTIONAL AND SAFETY WAS NEVER A FACTOR AS THERE WAS NO REPORTED TFC AND IT WAS VFR WITH UNLIMITED VISIBILITY. OUR INSTRUMENTS NEVER SHOWED US ANYWHERE NEAR 6.5 MI OFF COURSE.

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.