<< >> NASA ASRS Report 219419, August 1992

An large transport was off course on the high altitude airways due to radio magnetic interference from passenger equipment.

Attributes
ACN	219419
Time
Date	199208
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : rav
State Reference	PA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 17000 msl bound upper : 17000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute airway : j64
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 250 flight time total : 8600 flight time type : 300
ASRS Report	219419
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	flight crew : overcame equipment problem other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

Our flight had just intercepted J-64 off of the pottstown 320 degree radial 30 DME mi from ravine (VOR). We were told that we were north of course but all indications in the cockpit showed us to be near centerline. Later, during this same flight, we were cleared direct to knox VOR. Within a few mins the chicago center controller asked us twice if we were proceeding direct to knox VOR. Again, all indications were normal. I then asked our flight attendants to inspect the cabin for portable electronic devices. She reported within a few mins that a tape machine and a 'game boy' electronic toy were being used. After these devices were turned off, no other reports were received from ATC. It becomes a bit confusing when a controller questions your navigation but all indications were normal. I'm still not 100% sure how much the electronic devices contributed to our navigational error.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN LGT WAS OFF COURSE ON THE HIGH ALT AIRWAYS DUE TO RADIO MAGNETIC INTERFERENCE FROM PAX EQUIP.

Narrative: OUR FLT HAD JUST INTERCEPTED J-64 OFF OF THE POTTSTOWN 320 DEG RADIAL 30 DME MI FROM RAVINE (VOR). WE WERE TOLD THAT WE WERE N OF COURSE BUT ALL INDICATIONS IN THE COCKPIT SHOWED US TO BE NEAR CTRLINE. LATER, DURING THIS SAME FLT, WE WERE CLRED DIRECT TO KNOX VOR. WITHIN A FEW MINS THE CHICAGO CTR CTLR ASKED US TWICE IF WE WERE PROCEEDING DIRECT TO KNOX VOR. AGAIN, ALL INDICATIONS WERE NORMAL. I THEN ASKED OUR FLT ATTENDANTS TO INSPECT THE CABIN FOR PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICES. SHE RPTED WITHIN A FEW MINS THAT A TAPE MACHINE AND A 'GAME BOY' ELECTRONIC TOY WERE BEING USED. AFTER THESE DEVICES WERE TURNED OFF, NO OTHER RPTS WERE RECEIVED FROM ATC. IT BECOMES A BIT CONFUSING WHEN A CTLR QUESTIONS YOUR NAV BUT ALL INDICATIONS WERE NORMAL. I'M STILL NOT 100% SURE HOW MUCH THE ELECTRONIC DEVICES CONTRIBUTED TO OUR NAVIGATIONAL ERROR.

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.