Air carrier medium large transport track heading deviation.

Attributes
ACN	124540
Time
Date	198910
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : bld
State Reference	CO
Altitude	msl bound lower : 35000 msl bound upper : 35000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zla tracon : dfw
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 142 flight time total : 10000 flight time type : 228
ASRS Report	124540
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : required legal separation non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
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:

En route den-bur oct/89 at FL350 near bld, received clearance to proceed direct to hec flight plan route. I entered hec in the FMC, it looked good. I executed and the aircraft made a gentle correction. Bld was a routine check point on our flight plan but was now eliminated. I entered the information to provide us with an 'abeam' point for bld. When this was accomplished I reached down for my map to reconfirm our routing. When I looked back up the aircraft had turned from approximately 215-220 heading to 280 degree. I took control and was turning back on course when ZLA called. Another aircraft was approaching this area and was given a turn and descent to a lower altitude. Apparently what had happened: we had already passed abeam of bld when I entered that position. When I reached for my map the aircraft started a right turn to return to abeam bld.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR MLG TRACK HEADING DEVIATION.

Narrative: ENRTE DEN-BUR OCT/89 AT FL350 NEAR BLD, RECEIVED CLRNC TO PROCEED DIRECT TO HEC FLT PLAN ROUTE. I ENTERED HEC IN THE FMC, IT LOOKED GOOD. I EXECUTED AND THE ACFT MADE A GENTLE CORRECTION. BLD WAS A ROUTINE CHECK POINT ON OUR FLT PLAN BUT WAS NOW ELIMINATED. I ENTERED THE INFO TO PROVIDE US WITH AN 'ABEAM' POINT FOR BLD. WHEN THIS WAS ACCOMPLISHED I REACHED DOWN FOR MY MAP TO RECONFIRM OUR ROUTING. WHEN I LOOKED BACK UP THE ACFT HAD TURNED FROM APPROX 215-220 HDG TO 280 DEG. I TOOK CONTROL AND WAS TURNING BACK ON COURSE WHEN ZLA CALLED. ANOTHER ACFT WAS APCHING THIS AREA AND WAS GIVEN A TURN AND DSCNT TO A LOWER ALT. APPARENTLY WHAT HAD HAPPENED: WE HAD ALREADY PASSED ABEAM OF BLD WHEN I ENTERED THAT POSITION. WHEN I REACHED FOR MY MAP THE ACFT STARTED A RIGHT TURN TO RETURN TO ABEAM BLD.

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.