Heading track deviation as departure controller fails to catch improper readback from flight crew.

Attributes
ACN	144474
Time
Date	199004
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : atl
State Reference	GA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 5000 msl bound upper : 14000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : atl tower : dca
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude climbout : initial cruise other
Route In Use	departure other enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 250 flight time total : 10000
ASRS Report	144474
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
ASRS Report	144127
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
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Ambiguous
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Deviation Pilot Deviation
Situations
ATC Facility	procedure or policy : unspecified

Narrative:

Departed hartsfield on runway 27L. After takeoff we began our climb to 10000' on our initial heading. At approximately 5000' MSL I understood departure control to say and readback turn to 190 degrees and climb to 14000'. After approximately one min departure control asked me if I was turning to 90 degrees. I said 'no, I read back 190 degrees'. They then said to turn to 70 degrees and I acknowledge the request for a turn to 70 degrees. I then asked twice before getting an answer to confirm we are still cleared to 14000'. Departure control may or may not have given us a turn to 190 degrees, but I set my heading bug on 190 degrees and read back 190 degrees. It is very important that ATC controllers listen carefully to readbacks to insure the instructions were properly heard and understood.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: HEADING TRACK DEVIATION AS DEP CTLR FAILS TO CATCH IMPROPER READBACK FROM FLT CREW.

Narrative: DEPARTED HARTSFIELD ON RWY 27L. AFTER TKOF WE BEGAN OUR CLB TO 10000' ON OUR INITIAL HDG. AT APPROX 5000' MSL I UNDERSTOOD DEP CTL TO SAY AND READBACK TURN TO 190 DEGS AND CLB TO 14000'. AFTER APPROX ONE MIN DEP CTL ASKED ME IF I WAS TURNING TO 90 DEGS. I SAID 'NO, I READ BACK 190 DEGS'. THEY THEN SAID TO TURN TO 70 DEGS AND I ACKNOWLEDGE THE REQUEST FOR A TURN TO 70 DEGS. I THEN ASKED TWICE BEFORE GETTING AN ANSWER TO CONFIRM WE ARE STILL CLRED TO 14000'. DEP CTL MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE GIVEN US A TURN TO 190 DEGS, BUT I SET MY HDG BUG ON 190 DEGS AND READ BACK 190 DEGS. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT ATC CTLRS LISTEN CAREFULLY TO READBACKS TO INSURE THE INSTRUCTIONS WERE PROPERLY HEARD AND UNDERSTOOD.

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.