Flight crew of medium large transport took wrong heading after passing the mem VOR.

Attributes
ACN	136218
Time
Date	199002
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : mem
State Reference	TN
Altitude	msl bound lower : 35000 msl bound upper : 35000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zme
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : atp pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 5800 flight time type : 180
ASRS Report	136218
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance 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:

The mem controller gave us direct mem VOR, then as filed. When we got close to mem VOR, I changed my VOR (#2) to the inbound of the next fix. The captain was looking at his map. Because of him checking, I did not check his outbnd course. About 25-30 mi out the center said that we were 8 mi off course. When we checked we noticed that he had left his old course (the direct heading) in his VOR. I had checked that he was on course, but failed to notice mistake.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLT CREW OF MLG TOOK WRONG HEADING AFTER PASSING THE MEM VOR.

Narrative: THE MEM CTLR GAVE US DIRECT MEM VOR, THEN AS FILED. WHEN WE GOT CLOSE TO MEM VOR, I CHANGED MY VOR (#2) TO THE INBND OF THE NEXT FIX. THE CAPT WAS LOOKING AT HIS MAP. BECAUSE OF HIM CHKING, I DID NOT CHK HIS OUTBND COURSE. ABOUT 25-30 MI OUT THE CENTER SAID THAT WE WERE 8 MI OFF COURSE. WHEN WE CHKED WE NOTICED THAT HE HAD LEFT HIS OLD COURSE (THE DIRECT HDG) IN HIS VOR. I HAD CHKED THAT HE WAS ON COURSE, BUT FAILED TO NOTICE MISTAKE.

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