Heading track deviation in non adherence to an ATC clearance instruction.

Attributes
ACN	204663
Time
Date	199203
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : den
State Reference	CO
Altitude	agl bound lower : 1000 agl bound upper : 1000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : den
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude climbout : takeoff
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : flight engineer pilot : atp pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 3500 flight time type : 900
ASRS Report	204663
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Den tower cleared us on to hold 35L. We waited approximately 5 mins for takeoff clearance. Our initial clearance was denver-1 SID (runway heading 10000 ft). Tower gave instructions to at least 4 other aircraft (departing 35L and right) to maintain 7500 ft and 010 degree heading. When we were cleared for takeoff, I thought I heard tower say 010 degree 7500 ft after takeoff, turned 20 degree right to 010 degrees. Tower then queried and told us to turn back to 350 degree 7500 ft. No conflicts. Think tower should clear us runway heading 7500 ft in this situation due to the large number of previous aircraft being issued 010 degree heading. This would help tremendously, because I was probably under the preconceived mindset of a 010 degree heading.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: HDG TRACK DEV IN NON ADHERENCE TO AN ATC CLRNC INSTRUCTION.

Narrative: DEN TWR CLRED US ON TO HOLD 35L. WE WAITED APPROX 5 MINS FOR TKOF CLRNC. OUR INITIAL CLRNC WAS DENVER-1 SID (RWY HDG 10000 FT). TWR GAVE INSTRUCTIONS TO AT LEAST 4 OTHER ACFT (DEPARTING 35L AND R) TO MAINTAIN 7500 FT AND 010 DEG HDG. WHEN WE WERE CLRED FOR TKOF, I THOUGHT I HEARD TWR SAY 010 DEG 7500 FT AFTER TKOF, TURNED 20 DEG R TO 010 DEGS. TWR THEN QUERIED AND TOLD US TO TURN BACK TO 350 DEG 7500 FT. NO CONFLICTS. THINK TWR SHOULD CLR US RWY HDG 7500 FT IN THIS SITUATION DUE TO THE LARGE NUMBER OF PREVIOUS ACFT BEING ISSUED 010 DEG HDG. THIS WOULD HELP TREMENDOUSLY, BECAUSE I WAS PROBABLY UNDER THE PRECONCEIVED MINDSET OF A 010 DEG HDG.

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.