Air carrier medium large transport track heading deviation.

Attributes
ACN	123250
Time
Date	198909
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : sac
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 23000 msl bound upper : 23000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zoa
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
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 225 flight time total : 5000 flight time type : 750
ASRS Report	123250
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : commercial pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 7000 flight time type : 2200
ASRS Report	123133
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Air carrier flight from san jose to reno. Cleared by san jose tower via 'flight planned route'. Clearance read sjc loupe 6 sac transition sac 028080 sparks rno. Over sacramento, the captain turned aircraft to 280 degree heading. After 5-6 mins, ZOA called to ask destination. 'Reno' I replied, and read him the clearance sac 280/80 direct sparks. Oakland immediately issued an easterly heading and told us we should have tracked out the 028 degree radial. Neither of us (captain nor I) properly read the leading zero. I believe clrncs of this type should read sac 028/80. Additionally, neither sparks nor reno are on the high altitude navigation chart so I was unable to visualize the route as I should have. Of course, sitting here writing this, I feel foolish because I know reno is east of sacramento even though I had never been there previously. Additionally, I was over confident in the captain who had made this trip several times previously. Even though it was a short (35 min) leg, I should have watched where he was going.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR MLG TRACK HEADING DEVIATION.

Narrative: AIR CARRIER FLT FROM SAN JOSE TO RENO. CLRED BY SAN JOSE TWR VIA 'FLT PLANNED ROUTE'. CLRNC READ SJC LOUPE 6 SAC TRANSITION SAC 028080 SPARKS RNO. OVER SACRAMENTO, THE CAPT TURNED ACFT TO 280 DEG HDG. AFTER 5-6 MINS, ZOA CALLED TO ASK DEST. 'RENO' I REPLIED, AND READ HIM THE CLRNC SAC 280/80 DIRECT SPARKS. OAKLAND IMMEDIATELY ISSUED AN EASTERLY HDG AND TOLD US WE SHOULD HAVE TRACKED OUT THE 028 DEG RADIAL. NEITHER OF US (CAPT NOR I) PROPERLY READ THE LEADING ZERO. I BELIEVE CLRNCS OF THIS TYPE SHOULD READ SAC 028/80. ADDITIONALLY, NEITHER SPARKS NOR RENO ARE ON THE HIGH ALT NAVIGATION CHART SO I WAS UNABLE TO VISUALIZE THE ROUTE AS I SHOULD HAVE. OF COURSE, SITTING HERE WRITING THIS, I FEEL FOOLISH BECAUSE I KNOW RENO IS EAST OF SACRAMENTO EVEN THOUGH I HAD NEVER BEEN THERE PREVIOUSLY. ADDITIONALLY, I WAS OVER CONFIDENT IN THE CAPT WHO HAD MADE THIS TRIP SEVERAL TIMES PREVIOUSLY. EVEN THOUGH IT WAS A SHORT (35 MIN) LEG, I SHOULD HAVE WATCHED WHERE HE WAS GOING.

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.