Small aircraft pilot turns wrong direction when cleared for approach.

Attributes
ACN	225875
Time
Date	199211
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : vrb airport : fpr
State Reference	FL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3000 msl bound upper : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zma tower : ewr
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other descent : approach descent other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 30 flight time total : 900 flight time type : 70
ASRS Report	225875
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : published procedure non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course flight crew : became reoriented
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

ZMA cleared me for the VOR-DME 14 approach to fpr. Instead of gong inbound on the 154 degree radial off vrb VOR, I went outbound on the 334 degree radial off the vrb VOR. ZMA asked me if I was inbound to the VOR. I replied I was outbound on the 334 degree radial. ZMA replied 'no, outbound on the 154 degree radial, cleared for the VOR 14 approach fpr.' so I then turned direct to the VOR vrb, went outbound north the 154 degree radial. After a few mins, ZMA said to contact fpr tower, and I did. Then I made an uneventful landing on runway 9. I need to listen closer and write down what controller says. If controller speaks too fast, I need to ask him to repeat the message slowly.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA PLT TURNS WRONG DIRECTION WHEN CLRED FOR APCH.

Narrative: ZMA CLRED ME FOR THE VOR-DME 14 APCH TO FPR. INSTEAD OF GONG INBOUND ON THE 154 DEG RADIAL OFF VRB VOR, I WENT OUTBOUND ON THE 334 DEG RADIAL OFF THE VRB VOR. ZMA ASKED ME IF I WAS INBOUND TO THE VOR. I REPLIED I WAS OUTBOUND ON THE 334 DEG RADIAL. ZMA REPLIED 'NO, OUTBOUND ON THE 154 DEG RADIAL, CLRED FOR THE VOR 14 APCH FPR.' SO I THEN TURNED DIRECT TO THE VOR VRB, WENT OUTBOUND N THE 154 DEG RADIAL. AFTER A FEW MINS, ZMA SAID TO CONTACT FPR TWR, AND I DID. THEN I MADE AN UNEVENTFUL LNDG ON RWY 9. I NEED TO LISTEN CLOSER AND WRITE DOWN WHAT CTLR SAYS. IF CTLR SPEAKS TOO FAST, I NEED TO ASK HIM TO REPEAT THE MESSAGE SLOWLY.

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.