Narrative:

We departed tupelo VFR and contacted memphis center, to pick up a clearance to bna. Our approximately heading was 035 degrees. The controller asked us to confirm our heading. The captain did as '035 degrees direct to gram.' we had been cleared as filed. Prior to and after takeoff the first officer had briefed the captain that the clearance was tup direct grm direct GRM2 direct bna. The captain assumed she was doing the appropriate departure and en route routing based on the first officer's planning. The controller corrected them (the actual clearance was tup direct MSL direct grm direct GRM2 direct bna). The crew then complied with the correct clearance. The problem: the first officer misunderstood or confused the clearance due to the fact that normally after takeoff he was accustomed to receiving direct grm. He assumed he knew the clearance.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLC BRIEFED CLRNC BUT NOT CORRECTLY. HDG DEV.

Narrative: WE DEPARTED TUPELO VFR AND CONTACTED MEMPHIS CTR, TO PICK UP A CLRNC TO BNA. OUR APPROX HDG WAS 035 DEGS. THE CTLR ASKED US TO CONFIRM OUR HDG. THE CAPT DID AS '035 DEGS DIRECT TO GRAM.' WE HAD BEEN CLRED AS FILED. PRIOR TO AND AFTER TKOF THE FO HAD BRIEFED THE CAPT THAT THE CLRNC WAS TUP DIRECT GRM DIRECT GRM2 DIRECT BNA. THE CAPT ASSUMED SHE WAS DOING THE APPROPRIATE DEP AND ENRTE RTING BASED ON THE FO'S PLANNING. THE CTLR CORRECTED THEM (THE ACTUAL CLRNC WAS TUP DIRECT MSL DIRECT GRM DIRECT GRM2 DIRECT BNA). THE CREW THEN COMPLIED WITH THE CORRECT CLRNC. THE PROBLEM: THE FO MISUNDERSTOOD OR CONFUSED THE CLRNC DUE TO THE FACT THAT NORMALLY AFTER TKOF HE WAS ACCUSTOMED TO RECEIVING DIRECT GRM. HE ASSUMED HE KNEW THE CLRNC.

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.