Narrative:

On a scheduled flight from bna-ewr, during the arrival portion of the flight (warrd 3. Ewr), we had been given 2 spacing vectors (60 degree turns) prior to the pxt VOR and then cleared direct pxt ward 3 ewr. The third time, following the vector, we were given a heading to intercept the warrd 3 ewr. Since we were not going direct to pxt but intercepting beyond we tuned in the next fix, eno (kenton) VOR and set up the intercept. Holding instructions were issued a couple of mins later. 'Hold southwest on the pxt 046 radial 25 DME fix, left turns 10 NM legs. Maintain FL240, efc XX30Z.' proceeded towards clearance fix. At 35 NM of pxt 046 radial center asked if we were established in the hold. I replied that we were still southwest of pxt. ATC said turn left to a heading of 220 degrees and began talking to another aircraft which had also some problems with the holding clearance. During this time period, we discovered our error...we had eno tuned, not pxt. This was totally my error and see that the habit of pilots to look ahead to the next position can be a trap. My mind was flying to the next fix eno and when ATC issued holding instructions my mind was thinking 'for the fix coming up.' this was a trap of my own making. How often have I heard in my 33 yrs of flying, 'tune and identify'? Had I tuned and idented pxt this error would not have occurred. I intend to redouble my vigilance in the future. Perhaps information to pilots with 'subtlety traps' of errors of this nature may help avert other incidences. I read all I can get in an effort to learn 'second hand.'

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR MLG OVERSHOOTS HIS CLRNC POINT WHEN FLC SUFFERS A DEV NON ADHERENCE TO ATC INSTRUCTION.

Narrative: ON A SCHEDULED FLT FROM BNA-EWR, DURING THE ARR PORTION OF THE FLT (WARRD 3. EWR), WE HAD BEEN GIVEN 2 SPACING VECTORS (60 DEG TURNS) PRIOR TO THE PXT VOR AND THEN CLRED DIRECT PXT WARD 3 EWR. THE THIRD TIME, FOLLOWING THE VECTOR, WE WERE GIVEN A HDG TO INTERCEPT THE WARRD 3 EWR. SINCE WE WERE NOT GOING DIRECT TO PXT BUT INTERCEPTING BEYOND WE TUNED IN THE NEXT FIX, ENO (KENTON) VOR AND SET UP THE INTERCEPT. HOLDING INSTRUCTIONS WERE ISSUED A COUPLE OF MINS LATER. 'HOLD SW ON THE PXT 046 RADIAL 25 DME FIX, L TURNS 10 NM LEGS. MAINTAIN FL240, EFC XX30Z.' PROCEEDED TOWARDS CLRNC FIX. AT 35 NM OF PXT 046 RADIAL CTR ASKED IF WE WERE ESTABLISHED IN THE HOLD. I REPLIED THAT WE WERE STILL SW OF PXT. ATC SAID TURN L TO A HDG OF 220 DEGS AND BEGAN TALKING TO ANOTHER ACFT WHICH HAD ALSO SOME PROBLEMS WITH THE HOLDING CLRNC. DURING THIS TIME PERIOD, WE DISCOVERED OUR ERROR...WE HAD ENO TUNED, NOT PXT. THIS WAS TOTALLY MY ERROR AND SEE THAT THE HABIT OF PLTS TO LOOK AHEAD TO THE NEXT POS CAN BE A TRAP. MY MIND WAS FLYING TO THE NEXT FIX ENO AND WHEN ATC ISSUED HOLDING INSTRUCTIONS MY MIND WAS THINKING 'FOR THE FIX COMING UP.' THIS WAS A TRAP OF MY OWN MAKING. HOW OFTEN HAVE I HEARD IN MY 33 YRS OF FLYING, 'TUNE AND IDENT'? HAD I TUNED AND IDENTED PXT THIS ERROR WOULD NOT HAVE OCCURRED. I INTEND TO REDOUBLE MY VIGILANCE IN THE FUTURE. PERHAPS INFO TO PLTS WITH 'SUBTLETY TRAPS' OF ERRORS OF THIS NATURE MAY HELP AVERT OTHER INCIDENCES. I READ ALL I CAN GET IN AN EFFORT TO LEARN 'SECOND HAND.'

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.