Heading track deviation when aircraft equipment problem causes navigation system to malfunction.

Attributes
ACN	238376
Time
Date	199304
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : pxv
State Reference	IN
Altitude	msl bound lower : 35000 msl bound upper : 35000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zid
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 300 flight time total : 6000 flight time type : 1500
ASRS Report	238376
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 240 flight time total : 6500 flight time type : 1000
ASRS Report	238377
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe 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 other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

How problem arose: inattn to the aircraft. Instead of watching to see if the aircraft turned the correct way, I was busy keeping track of time/fuel. The aircraft turned to an incorrect waypoint and turned north instead down J131 towards deven intersection. When I looked up to check, I was approximately 60 degrees heading to the right. Center called and asked us our routing at the same time. Stronger habit patterns would prevent a recurrence. Supplemental information from acn 238377: over pocket city VOR, aircraft turned 60 degrees right of course. Center called to confirm route. We corrected omega to join J131 to lit. I was busy checking route when this happened.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: HDG TRACK DEV WHEN ACFT EQUIP PROB CAUSES NAV SYS TO MALFUNCTION.

Narrative: HOW PROB AROSE: INATTN TO THE ACFT. INSTEAD OF WATCHING TO SEE IF THE ACFT TURNED THE CORRECT WAY, I WAS BUSY KEEPING TRACK OF TIME/FUEL. THE ACFT TURNED TO AN INCORRECT WAYPOINT AND TURNED N INSTEAD DOWN J131 TOWARDS DEVEN INTXN. WHEN I LOOKED UP TO CHK, I WAS APPROX 60 DEGS HDG TO THE R. CTR CALLED AND ASKED US OUR ROUTING AT THE SAME TIME. STRONGER HABIT PATTERNS WOULD PREVENT A RECURRENCE. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 238377: OVER POCKET CITY VOR, ACFT TURNED 60 DEGS R OF COURSE. CTR CALLED TO CONFIRM RTE. WE CORRECTED OMEGA TO JOIN J131 TO LIT. I WAS BUSY CHKING RTE WHEN THIS HAPPENED.

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.