Narrative:

After takeoff from atl, we were cleared direct vuz J14 on course. I departed vuz outbnd on the 261 degree right (J52) instead of the 282 degree right (J14). At approximately the 33 DME, center asked if I was outbnd on J14. I then realized my mistake, thanked center and stated that I was correcting north for J14. No vector was required and I can only assume no conflict existed. Simply put, I made an error. In the interest of safety, not excuse, I will give my evaluation of how I came to make the mistake. I am an instrument for my airline. My first officer was on his first trip. We knew each other from the training environment. During climb out, we were advised of a mechanical problem observed by a passenger and relayed through the F/a. The mechanical was easily corrected but required notification of the company and maintenance. I directed the first officer to continue monitoring ATC while I discussed the situation with company. I did not give control of the aircraft to the first officer. Obviously, I could handle the navigation and talk at the same time. Certainly, a new first officer (less than 1 yr with the company, still on probation) wasn't going to suggest that this captain (20+ yrs and an instrument) was making a mistake on the first leg of the first day of our first rotation. It's difficult and embarrassing to make a mistake, but I must admit that it was probably a 'good' thing to have happened. The ice was broken, and no damage done. We both realized how easy it is to be wrong and need to keep an eye on each other--especially the guy who should know.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MLG FLT CREW FLEW WRONG RADIAL. HEADING DEVIATION.

Narrative: AFTER TKOF FROM ATL, WE WERE CLRED DIRECT VUZ J14 ON COURSE. I DEPARTED VUZ OUTBND ON THE 261 DEG R (J52) INSTEAD OF THE 282 DEG R (J14). AT APPROX THE 33 DME, CENTER ASKED IF I WAS OUTBND ON J14. I THEN REALIZED MY MISTAKE, THANKED CENTER AND STATED THAT I WAS CORRECTING N FOR J14. NO VECTOR WAS REQUIRED AND I CAN ONLY ASSUME NO CONFLICT EXISTED. SIMPLY PUT, I MADE AN ERROR. IN THE INTEREST OF SAFETY, NOT EXCUSE, I WILL GIVE MY EVALUATION OF HOW I CAME TO MAKE THE MISTAKE. I AM AN INSTR FOR MY AIRLINE. MY F/O WAS ON HIS FIRST TRIP. WE KNEW EACH OTHER FROM THE TRNING ENVIRONMENT. DURING CLBOUT, WE WERE ADVISED OF A MECHANICAL PROB OBSERVED BY A PAX AND RELAYED THROUGH THE F/A. THE MECHANICAL WAS EASILY CORRECTED BUT REQUIRED NOTIFICATION OF THE COMPANY AND MAINT. I DIRECTED THE F/O TO CONTINUE MONITORING ATC WHILE I DISCUSSED THE SITUATION WITH COMPANY. I DID NOT GIVE CTL OF THE ACFT TO THE F/O. OBVIOUSLY, I COULD HANDLE THE NAV AND TALK AT THE SAME TIME. CERTAINLY, A NEW F/O (LESS THAN 1 YR WITH THE COMPANY, STILL ON PROBATION) WASN'T GOING TO SUGGEST THAT THIS CAPT (20+ YRS AND AN INSTR) WAS MAKING A MISTAKE ON THE FIRST LEG OF THE FIRST DAY OF OUR FIRST ROTATION. IT'S DIFFICULT AND EMBARRASSING TO MAKE A MISTAKE, BUT I MUST ADMIT THAT IT WAS PROBABLY A 'GOOD' THING TO HAVE HAPPENED. THE ICE WAS BROKEN, AND NO DAMAGE DONE. WE BOTH REALIZED HOW EASY IT IS TO BE WRONG AND NEED TO KEEP AN EYE ON EACH OTHER--ESPECIALLY THE GUY WHO SHOULD KNOW.

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.