Heading track position deviation in gross navigation error.

Attributes
ACN	235574
Time
Date	199303
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	0001 To 0600
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : einn
State Reference	FO
Altitude	msl bound lower : 41000 msl bound upper : 41000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : eggx tower : lws
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : atlantic enroute : other oceanic
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 60 flight time total : 7500 flight time type : 1200
ASRS Report	235574
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew faa : investigated
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

In sum: cpr chief pilot and first officer independently figured latitude/longitude coordinates for departure airport, ewr, nj. Did not use airport identify and associated airport coordinates as normally done for domestic flts. Received equipment warnings after the first update on position over first fix after command bars command disagreed with VOR navigation position. Initial IRS differential warning messages were 3, 6, etc. Other updates performed at cyqx done and crew were satisfied with plot on tracks during the flight above the mnps airspace at FL410. In radar contact with shannon control they were advised that they were 81 NM north of course. Reporter says this was an initialization error, sometimes called a 'finger' error. Reporter stated that he would use the airport coordinates from now on and independently have the first officer and himself check their IRS position on the runway. Further, that with any warning display at all, he will land at the suitable airport for corrections. Error admitted while stating that he is very familiar with equipment and didn't think this could happen to him. Says they were not complacent but still subject to human error.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: HDG TRACK POS DEV IN GROSS NAV ERROR.

Narrative: IN SUM: CPR CHIEF PLT AND FO INDEPENDENTLY FIGURED LATITUDE/LONGITUDE COORDINATES FOR DEP ARPT, EWR, NJ. DID NOT USE ARPT IDENT AND ASSOCIATED ARPT COORDINATES AS NORMALLY DONE FOR DOMESTIC FLTS. RECEIVED EQUIP WARNINGS AFTER THE FIRST UPDATE ON POS OVER FIRST FIX AFTER COMMAND BARS COMMAND DISAGREED WITH VOR NAV POS. INITIAL IRS DIFFERENTIAL WARNING MESSAGES WERE 3, 6, ETC. OTHER UPDATES PERFORMED AT CYQX DONE AND CREW WERE SATISFIED WITH PLOT ON TRACKS DURING THE FLT ABOVE THE MNPS AIRSPACE AT FL410. IN RADAR CONTACT WITH SHANNON CTL THEY WERE ADVISED THAT THEY WERE 81 NM N OF COURSE. RPTR SAYS THIS WAS AN INITIALIZATION ERROR, SOMETIMES CALLED A 'FINGER' ERROR. RPTR STATED THAT HE WOULD USE THE ARPT COORDINATES FROM NOW ON AND INDEPENDENTLY HAVE THE FO AND HIMSELF CHK THEIR IRS POS ON THE RWY. FURTHER, THAT WITH ANY WARNING DISPLAY AT ALL, HE WILL LAND AT THE SUITABLE ARPT FOR CORRECTIONS. ERROR ADMITTED WHILE STATING THAT HE IS VERY FAMILIAR WITH EQUIP AND DIDN'T THINK THIS COULD HAPPEN TO HIM. SAYS THEY WERE NOT COMPLACENT BUT STILL SUBJECT TO HUMAN 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.