Heading track deviation.

Attributes
ACN	146787
Time
Date	199005
Day	Sat
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : mxe
State Reference	PA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 5000 msl bound upper : 5000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Marginal
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : phl tower : vad
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute airway : phl
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 10 flight time total : 290 flight time type : 280
ASRS Report	146787
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : departure
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical non adherence : far other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : became reoriented 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:

On trip from N06 to seg had just passed modena VOR about 10 mins when I was told that I was on the wrong radio for V170. I was flying with only my #1 navigation communication because my gen system was noted not to be changing about 1/2 hour previously. My #2 navcom is a tub type and uses a great deal of electricity. I felt that by conserving battery power, I would not have any difficulty getting home. The WX was IFR on takeoff, but was steadily getting better and was at least marginal VFR soon after leaving modena VOR. When I use 2 navcoms I use the top one ('from' the VOR) until time to switch to the next VOR 'to.' since I was using only one I incorrectly started tracking ravine VOR after passing modena. I was using my flight plan and therefore did not note the dog leg. When told by ATC the proper radial was 327 degrees, I was confused for a few mins until I got the chart out and realized that the controller was giving me the radial from modena and not the 'to' radial of ravine. Because of my confusion, I did not fully respond to the southern vector given, but luckily wandered to the 327 degree right 'to' which was close to the proper space within the arwy. Remedial actions to prevent this again: 1) get electrical system fixed tomorrow, 2) when there is a dog log, mark it on the flight plan; 3) let ATC now when I'm having equipment failure; 4) when I do not understand a vector, ask ATC why, don't spend time figuring it out.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: HEADING TRACK DEVIATION.

Narrative: ON TRIP FROM N06 TO SEG HAD JUST PASSED MODENA VOR ABOUT 10 MINS WHEN I WAS TOLD THAT I WAS ON THE WRONG RADIO FOR V170. I WAS FLYING WITH ONLY MY #1 NAV COM BECAUSE MY GEN SYS WAS NOTED NOT TO BE CHANGING ABOUT 1/2 HR PREVIOUSLY. MY #2 NAVCOM IS A TUB TYPE AND USES A GREAT DEAL OF ELECTRICITY. I FELT THAT BY CONSERVING BATTERY PWR, I WOULD NOT HAVE ANY DIFFICULTY GETTING HOME. THE WX WAS IFR ON TKOF, BUT WAS STEADILY GETTING BETTER AND WAS AT LEAST MARGINAL VFR SOON AFTER LEAVING MODENA VOR. WHEN I USE 2 NAVCOMS I USE THE TOP ONE ('FROM' THE VOR) UNTIL TIME TO SWITCH TO THE NEXT VOR 'TO.' SINCE I WAS USING ONLY ONE I INCORRECTLY STARTED TRACKING RAVINE VOR AFTER PASSING MODENA. I WAS USING MY FLT PLAN AND THEREFORE DID NOT NOTE THE DOG LEG. WHEN TOLD BY ATC THE PROPER RADIAL WAS 327 DEGS, I WAS CONFUSED FOR A FEW MINS UNTIL I GOT THE CHART OUT AND REALIZED THAT THE CTLR WAS GIVING ME THE RADIAL FROM MODENA AND NOT THE 'TO' RADIAL OF RAVINE. BECAUSE OF MY CONFUSION, I DID NOT FULLY RESPOND TO THE SOUTHERN VECTOR GIVEN, BUT LUCKILY WANDERED TO THE 327 DEG R 'TO' WHICH WAS CLOSE TO THE PROPER SPACE WITHIN THE ARWY. REMEDIAL ACTIONS TO PREVENT THIS AGAIN: 1) GET ELECTRICAL SYS FIXED TOMORROW, 2) WHEN THERE IS A DOG LOG, MARK IT ON THE FLT PLAN; 3) LET ATC NOW WHEN I'M HAVING EQUIP FAILURE; 4) WHEN I DO NOT UNDERSTAND A VECTOR, ASK ATC WHY, DON'T SPEND TIME FIGURING IT OUT.

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.