Corp flight crew enters wrong VOR in FMS. Heading deviation.

Attributes
ACN	164574
Time
Date	199012
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : trm
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 27000 msl bound upper : 27000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zla tower : laf
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Light Transport
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 80 flight time total : 9100 flight time type : 1100
ASRS Report	164574
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance 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:

We departed sna climbing to en route altitude via the SID. We were cleared to FL270 direct trm, 080 degree heading. Later we were given direct newman. The copilot put ewn into the FMS long-range computer instead of ewm. We did not notice the error for a few mins. We changed heading to 065 degrees to go ewn. We caught the error and started to turn direct ewm (085 degree heading). At the same time center asked what we were showing for direct ewm. We told them '085.' they didn't say anything then. A few moments later center told us to turn to 100 degree heading, climb to FL280, and that the heading was necessary because of our earlier turn north of course. Nothing else was said. I was not familiar with either of there station identify or with the navigation space in that part of the country. It was after dark, and I did not catch the copilot's error. I was relying on him, since I was busy flying.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CORP FLT CREW ENTERS WRONG VOR IN FMS. HEADING DEVIATION.

Narrative: WE DEPARTED SNA CLBING TO ENRTE ALT VIA THE SID. WE WERE CLRED TO FL270 DIRECT TRM, 080 DEG HDG. LATER WE WERE GIVEN DIRECT NEWMAN. THE COPLT PUT EWN INTO THE FMS LONG-RANGE COMPUTER INSTEAD OF EWM. WE DID NOT NOTICE THE ERROR FOR A FEW MINS. WE CHANGED HDG TO 065 DEGS TO GO EWN. WE CAUGHT THE ERROR AND STARTED TO TURN DIRECT EWM (085 DEG HDG). AT THE SAME TIME CENTER ASKED WHAT WE WERE SHOWING FOR DIRECT EWM. WE TOLD THEM '085.' THEY DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING THEN. A FEW MOMENTS LATER CENTER TOLD US TO TURN TO 100 DEG HDG, CLB TO FL280, AND THAT THE HDG WAS NECESSARY BECAUSE OF OUR EARLIER TURN N OF COURSE. NOTHING ELSE WAS SAID. I WAS NOT FAMILIAR WITH EITHER OF THERE STATION IDENT OR WITH THE NAV SPACE IN THAT PART OF THE COUNTRY. IT WAS AFTER DARK, AND I DID NOT CATCH THE COPLT'S ERROR. I WAS RELYING ON HIM, SINCE I WAS BUSY FLYING.

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.