Heading track deviation on departure.

Attributes
ACN	138666
Time
Date	199003
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : psp
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 10000 msl bound upper : 10000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zla
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude cruise other
Route In Use	departure other enroute airway : v386 enroute other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 160 flight time total : 15000 flight time type : 5000
ASRS Report	138666
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation other

Narrative:

I was the captain on a regular scheduled flight from psp to sfo. At the ramp at psp prior to engine start (approximately 5 mins) I asked the copilot how we had been cleared. He replied psp to yucca intersection direct to pmd, etc. I asked him again about this clearance because we were filed psp to yucca intersection V386 pmd. He replied again psp to yucca intersection direct pmd (diagram on reverse). I told him we were filed psp to yucca V386 pmd. He replied psp yucca direct pmd. We took off and climbed to 10000', switched to ZLA and checked in. About 2-3 mins later we crossed yucca intersection ( I was flying) and I headed direct pmd. About 2 mins later ZLA asked where we were going. I said to pmd. He said 'you are supposed to be on V386.' he gave me a turn to a heading. I told him I understood direct pmp after yucca intersection and gave my apologies. He kept us on a heading for about 2 mins and then cleared us direct pmd and said there was no problem. I questioned the copilot and he said he 'just assumed' that from yucca to pmd was direct because he 'didn't want to have to get my chart out of my bag--it didn't dawn on me that it might (V386 have a dogleg in it.' after 25 yrs (airline) it has gotten to the point that you have to trust more people, yet double-check them and rely on fewer people.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: HEADING TRACK DEVIATION ON DEP.

Narrative: I WAS THE CAPT ON A REGULAR SCHEDULED FLT FROM PSP TO SFO. AT THE RAMP AT PSP PRIOR TO ENG START (APPROX 5 MINS) I ASKED THE COPLT HOW WE HAD BEEN CLRED. HE REPLIED PSP TO YUCCA INTXN DIRECT TO PMD, ETC. I ASKED HIM AGAIN ABOUT THIS CLRNC BECAUSE WE WERE FILED PSP TO YUCCA INTXN V386 PMD. HE REPLIED AGAIN PSP TO YUCCA INTXN DIRECT PMD (DIAGRAM ON REVERSE). I TOLD HIM WE WERE FILED PSP TO YUCCA V386 PMD. HE REPLIED PSP YUCCA DIRECT PMD. WE TOOK OFF AND CLBED TO 10000', SWITCHED TO ZLA AND CHKED IN. ABOUT 2-3 MINS LATER WE CROSSED YUCCA INTXN ( I WAS FLYING) AND I HEADED DIRECT PMD. ABOUT 2 MINS LATER ZLA ASKED WHERE WE WERE GOING. I SAID TO PMD. HE SAID 'YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO BE ON V386.' HE GAVE ME A TURN TO A HDG. I TOLD HIM I UNDERSTOOD DIRECT PMP AFTER YUCCA INTXN AND GAVE MY APOLOGIES. HE KEPT US ON A HDG FOR ABOUT 2 MINS AND THEN CLRED US DIRECT PMD AND SAID THERE WAS NO PROB. I QUESTIONED THE COPLT AND HE SAID HE 'JUST ASSUMED' THAT FROM YUCCA TO PMD WAS DIRECT BECAUSE HE 'DIDN'T WANT TO HAVE TO GET MY CHART OUT OF MY BAG--IT DIDN'T DAWN ON ME THAT IT MIGHT (V386 HAVE A DOGLEG IN IT.' AFTER 25 YRS (AIRLINE) IT HAS GOTTEN TO THE POINT THAT YOU HAVE TO TRUST MORE PEOPLE, YET DOUBLE-CHK THEM AND RELY ON FEWER PEOPLE.

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.