Track deviation for flight training small aircraft at phx.

Attributes
ACN	143679
Time
Date	199004
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : srp airport : phx
State Reference	AZ
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1700 msl bound upper : 1700
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : phx tower : phx
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	instruction : instructor oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 1500 flight time type : 100
ASRS Report	143679
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	instruction : trainee
Qualification	pilot : private
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance none taken : detected after the fact other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Inter Facility Coordination Failure Operational Deviation

Narrative:

I departed phx sky harbor on an IFR training flight to bur, ca. I departed on runway 26R and at about 500' AGL received instructions to turn left heading 230 radar vectors to intercept V16. My student repeated the instructions and ATC had no response. Tower then handed us off to phx departure. After approximately 4 mi phx departure asked if we were on our tower assigned heading of 230 or if we had intercepted V16. My student informed him that we had intercepted V16 on course to buckeye. Phx departure informed us that the tower instructed us to fly a heading of 230 and that these radar vectors would eventually intercept V16 but I was not yet cleared to intercept the airway. ATC informed us that our premature interception of the airway almost caused a separation conflict. Departing on phx 26R and flying a heading of 230 will intercept V16 within a few mi. I believe if ATC did not want us to intercept V16 he should have said 'turn left 230 radar vectors to V16.' if time permitted he may have added that this vector will cross V16 like ATC usually does on apches. As when being radar vectored on an approach, I believe that when given a heading and told to intercept a course, you are to assume you are cleared to intercept upon reaching and should not fly through the course for future vectors to ultimately intercept.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: TRACK DEVIATION FOR FLT TRAINING SMA AT PHX.

Narrative: I DEPARTED PHX SKY HARBOR ON AN IFR TRAINING FLT TO BUR, CA. I DEPARTED ON RWY 26R AND AT ABOUT 500' AGL RECEIVED INSTRUCTIONS TO TURN LEFT HDG 230 RADAR VECTORS TO INTERCEPT V16. MY STUDENT REPEATED THE INSTRUCTIONS AND ATC HAD NO RESPONSE. TWR THEN HANDED US OFF TO PHX DEP. AFTER APPROX 4 MI PHX DEP ASKED IF WE WERE ON OUR TWR ASSIGNED HDG OF 230 OR IF WE HAD INTERCEPTED V16. MY STUDENT INFORMED HIM THAT WE HAD INTERCEPTED V16 ON COURSE TO BUCKEYE. PHX DEP INFORMED US THAT THE TWR INSTRUCTED US TO FLY A HDG OF 230 AND THAT THESE RADAR VECTORS WOULD EVENTUALLY INTERCEPT V16 BUT I WAS NOT YET CLRED TO INTERCEPT THE AIRWAY. ATC INFORMED US THAT OUR PREMATURE INTERCEPTION OF THE AIRWAY ALMOST CAUSED A SEPARATION CONFLICT. DEPARTING ON PHX 26R AND FLYING A HDG OF 230 WILL INTERCEPT V16 WITHIN A FEW MI. I BELIEVE IF ATC DID NOT WANT US TO INTERCEPT V16 HE SHOULD HAVE SAID 'TURN LEFT 230 RADAR VECTORS TO V16.' IF TIME PERMITTED HE MAY HAVE ADDED THAT THIS VECTOR WILL CROSS V16 LIKE ATC USUALLY DOES ON APCHES. AS WHEN BEING RADAR VECTORED ON AN APCH, I BELIEVE THAT WHEN GIVEN A HDG AND TOLD TO INTERCEPT A COURSE, YOU ARE TO ASSUME YOU ARE CLRED TO INTERCEPT UPON REACHING AND SHOULD NOT FLY THROUGH THE COURSE FOR FUTURE VECTORS TO ULTIMATELY INTERCEPT.

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.