Lack of crew coordination leads to track deviation for commuter light transport flight crew.

Attributes
ACN	163826
Time
Date	199011
Day	Sun
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : ths
State Reference	PA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 5000 msl bound upper : 5000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Light Transport
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 2800 flight time type : 1200
ASRS Report	163826
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Over the st thomas VOR the first officer requested 'direct EMI.' the controller responded with the altimeter and what I thought was, 'when able direct EMI.' in reality he said, 'unable direct EMI.' the first officer responded with the flight #. I should have been more aware that he (first officer) did not read back 'direct EMI.' his attention to my flying was distracted by necessary company paperwork. The solution is obvious: read back all clrncs, and both pilots should be identing the next NAVAID.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: LACK OF CREW COORD LEADS TO TRACK DEVIATION FOR COMMUTER LTT FLT CREW.

Narrative: OVER THE ST THOMAS VOR THE F/O REQUESTED 'DIRECT EMI.' THE CTLR RESPONDED WITH THE ALTIMETER AND WHAT I THOUGHT WAS, 'WHEN ABLE DIRECT EMI.' IN REALITY HE SAID, 'UNABLE DIRECT EMI.' THE F/O RESPONDED WITH THE FLT #. I SHOULD HAVE BEEN MORE AWARE THAT HE (F/O) DID NOT READ BACK 'DIRECT EMI.' HIS ATTN TO MY FLYING WAS DISTRACTED BY NECESSARY COMPANY PAPERWORK. THE SOLUTION IS OBVIOUS: READ BACK ALL CLRNCS, AND BOTH PLTS SHOULD BE IDENTING THE NEXT NAVAID.

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.