Commuter flight crew experiences track deviation and self-induced communication failure.

Attributes
ACN	174341
Time
Date	199103
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : lbf
State Reference	NE
Altitude	msl bound lower : 16000 msl bound upper : 16000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdv
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Light Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turboprop Eng
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude cruise other ground : preflight
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 : 4100 flight time type : 1000
ASRS Report	174341
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance 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
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

We arrived late into north platte, northeast, due to bad WX. A medical emergency aircraft diverted to lbf and numerous other aircraft were trying to get in due to icing in the area. We got our clearance to den and did our checklist and were airborne as soon as was possible. Due to all the aircraft having difficulties and coming into lbf, we set up our radios (communication) different than normal to monitor unicom and center at all times. After contacting center airborne and checking in, we switched to company to make our call. Normally #1 communication would still be on center, #2 on unicom and company. We flew 15-20 mi before realizing we had lost center. We checked in and found out they had just tried to call us. Also, in setting up our navigation radios, set 254 degrees instead of 234 degrees, and had to correct on course after 15 mi. Unfortunately, we wound up with 2 problems. In changing our normal radio setup to monitor all the frequencys we could, we set ourselves up to accidentally switch the frequency on the wrong radio. In monitoring traffic problems, we both seemed to have missed the 254 degree/234 degree confusion. With the WX down and other traffic having difficulties, we found it's best not to switch normal routines that might cause confusion later.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: COMMUTER FLT CREW EXPERIENCES TRACK DEVIATION AND SELF-INDUCED COM FAILURE.

Narrative: WE ARRIVED LATE INTO NORTH PLATTE, NE, DUE TO BAD WX. A MEDICAL EMER ACFT DIVERTED TO LBF AND NUMEROUS OTHER ACFT WERE TRYING TO GET IN DUE TO ICING IN THE AREA. WE GOT OUR CLRNC TO DEN AND DID OUR CHKLIST AND WERE AIRBORNE AS SOON AS WAS POSSIBLE. DUE TO ALL THE ACFT HAVING DIFFICULTIES AND COMING INTO LBF, WE SET UP OUR RADIOS (COM) DIFFERENT THAN NORMAL TO MONITOR UNICOM AND CENTER AT ALL TIMES. AFTER CONTACTING CENTER AIRBORNE AND CHKING IN, WE SWITCHED TO COMPANY TO MAKE OUR CALL. NORMALLY #1 COM WOULD STILL BE ON CENTER, #2 ON UNICOM AND COMPANY. WE FLEW 15-20 MI BEFORE REALIZING WE HAD LOST CENTER. WE CHKED IN AND FOUND OUT THEY HAD JUST TRIED TO CALL US. ALSO, IN SETTING UP OUR NAV RADIOS, SET 254 DEGS INSTEAD OF 234 DEGS, AND HAD TO CORRECT ON COURSE AFTER 15 MI. UNFORTUNATELY, WE WOUND UP WITH 2 PROBS. IN CHANGING OUR NORMAL RADIO SETUP TO MONITOR ALL THE FREQS WE COULD, WE SET OURSELVES UP TO ACCIDENTALLY SWITCH THE FREQ ON THE WRONG RADIO. IN MONITORING TFC PROBS, WE BOTH SEEMED TO HAVE MISSED THE 254 DEG/234 DEG CONFUSION. WITH THE WX DOWN AND OTHER TFC HAVING DIFFICULTIES, WE FOUND IT'S BEST NOT TO SWITCH NORMAL ROUTINES THAT MIGHT CAUSE CONFUSION LATER.

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.