Small aircraft flies direct instead of assigned heading. Almost enters prohibited area.

Attributes
ACN	184894
Time
Date	199107
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : dca
State Reference	DC
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3000 msl bound upper : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : dca tower : dca tower : syr
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	climbout : initial climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 40 flight time total : 270 flight time type : 50
ASRS Report	184894
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : departure
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course other
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was given a runway to taxi to at dca. I was then asked to change to depart on runway 3. Directions were to depart and go to heading of 030 and intercept a radial to fly towards aml VOR. Upon reaching altitude I turned towards aml on a heading of 360. During this time I was having trouble with my autoplt circuit breaker which kept on popping out. ATC called and asked what heading I was on. I responded 360. ATC complained I was not asked to turn to 360 but should be heading 030. I turned back to 030. ATC asked me to call when I landed at katw my destination which I did. I was informed that I almost penetrated a prohibited area. I don't know if I set up a wrong radial on my VOR, had an incorrect VOR tuned in, I followed what I thought was the proper direction to intercept the assigned radial. After correction of vector the rest of my trip was uneventful.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA FLIES DIRECT INSTEAD OF ASSIGNED HDG. ALMOST ENTERS PROHIBITED AREA.

Narrative: I WAS GIVEN A RWY TO TAXI TO AT DCA. I WAS THEN ASKED TO CHANGE TO DEPART ON RWY 3. DIRECTIONS WERE TO DEPART AND GO TO HDG OF 030 AND INTERCEPT A RADIAL TO FLY TOWARDS AML VOR. UPON REACHING ALT I TURNED TOWARDS AML ON A HDG OF 360. DURING THIS TIME I WAS HAVING TROUBLE WITH MY AUTOPLT CIRCUIT BREAKER WHICH KEPT ON POPPING OUT. ATC CALLED AND ASKED WHAT HDG I WAS ON. I RESPONDED 360. ATC COMPLAINED I WAS NOT ASKED TO TURN TO 360 BUT SHOULD BE HDG 030. I TURNED BACK TO 030. ATC ASKED ME TO CALL WHEN I LANDED AT KATW MY DEST WHICH I DID. I WAS INFORMED THAT I ALMOST PENETRATED A PROHIBITED AREA. I DON'T KNOW IF I SET UP A WRONG RADIAL ON MY VOR, HAD AN INCORRECT VOR TUNED IN, I FOLLOWED WHAT I THOUGHT WAS THE PROPER DIRECTION TO INTERCEPT THE ASSIGNED RADIAL. AFTER CORRECTION OF VECTOR THE REST OF MY TRIP WAS UNEVENTFUL.

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.