12 mi from VOR center controller advised flight they were 5 miles off course.

Attributes
ACN	173859
Time
Date	199103
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : etx
State Reference	PA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 35000 msl bound upper : 35000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zny tower : day
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute airway : zny
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 11000 flight time type : 1000
ASRS Report	173859
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : flight engineer pilot : instrument pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 125 flight time total : 9000 flight time type : 2200
ASRS Report	173860
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	flight crew : became reoriented other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

We were cleared direct etx VOR (east tx), then J80. Approximately 12 DME southwest of the VOR, center ask us to confirm we were on J80, I said yes. He then gave us a 20 degree heading change when we intercepted J80 within 30 second. Center said we were 5 mi south of J80 we could not have been and xed the right so quickly we showed being on J80 12 mi southwest of the VOR.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: 12 MI FROM VOR CENTER CTLR ADVISED FLT THEY WERE 5 MILES OFF COURSE.

Narrative: WE WERE CLRED DIRECT ETX VOR (E TX), THEN J80. APPROX 12 DME SW OF THE VOR, CTR ASK US TO CONFIRM WE WERE ON J80, I SAID YES. HE THEN GAVE US A 20 DEG HDG CHANGE WHEN WE INTERCEPTED J80 WITHIN 30 SEC. CTR SAID WE WERE 5 MI S OF J80 WE COULD NOT HAVE BEEN AND XED THE R SO QUICKLY WE SHOWED BEING ON J80 12 MI SW OF THE VOR.

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.