Track deviation. - NASA ASRS

Attributes
ACN	142311
Time
Date	199004
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : ama airport : tdw
State Reference	TX
Altitude	msl bound lower : 7000 msl bound upper : 7000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zab
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 60 flight time total : 8800 flight time type : 8800
ASRS Report	142311
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	observation : passenger
Qualification	other other : other
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance other anomaly other 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:

Departed tdw in VMC conditions on radar vectors to ama VOR and V304. Climbed to on top of scattered/broken conditions VFR. Just as I was arriving at ama VOR and resetting my HSI to V304, my passenger accidentally opened window. The distraction interrupted my setting the HSI and I misset it and ended on the wrong course. ATC pointed this out to me, and with red face I set the HSI correctly, flew to lnk and landed (ILS approach). I believe part of the problem was also caused by fatigue; I had been overworking and under business stress the last 3 weeks, and the night of the xx I did not get enough rest. Missetting the HSI bothered me greatly (and still does) even though in VMC, and I have decided to take a couple of days off in lnk and rest up prior to returning to tus. Fatigue can be quite deceptive and sneaky at times, and this incident has given me much food for thought. In aviation, large problems can come from small mistakes.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: TRACK DEVIATION.

Narrative: DEPARTED TDW IN VMC CONDITIONS ON RADAR VECTORS TO AMA VOR AND V304. CLBED TO ON TOP OF SCATTERED/BROKEN CONDITIONS VFR. JUST AS I WAS ARRIVING AT AMA VOR AND RESETTING MY HSI TO V304, MY PAX ACCIDENTALLY OPENED WINDOW. THE DISTR INTERRUPTED MY SETTING THE HSI AND I MISSET IT AND ENDED ON THE WRONG COURSE. ATC POINTED THIS OUT TO ME, AND WITH RED FACE I SET THE HSI CORRECTLY, FLEW TO LNK AND LANDED (ILS APCH). I BELIEVE PART OF THE PROB WAS ALSO CAUSED BY FATIGUE; I HAD BEEN OVERWORKING AND UNDER BUSINESS STRESS THE LAST 3 WKS, AND THE NIGHT OF THE XX I DID NOT GET ENOUGH REST. MISSETTING THE HSI BOTHERED ME GREATLY (AND STILL DOES) EVEN THOUGH IN VMC, AND I HAVE DECIDED TO TAKE A COUPLE OF DAYS OFF IN LNK AND REST UP PRIOR TO RETURNING TO TUS. FATIGUE CAN BE QUITE DECEPTIVE AND SNEAKY AT TIMES, AND THIS INCIDENT HAS GIVEN ME MUCH FOOD FOR THOUGHT. IN AVIATION, LARGE PROBS CAN COME FROM SMALL MISTAKES.

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.