Medium large transport given clearance direct with no NAVAID on field.

Attributes
ACN	248116
Time
Date	199308
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : sax airport : n90
State Reference	NJ
Altitude	msl bound lower : 5000 msl bound upper : 6000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : n90
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : direct enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 120 flight time total : 7500 flight time type : 700
ASRS Report	248116
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance non adherence other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified other controllera
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took evasive action
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Miss Distance	horizontal : 18000 vertical : 500
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

Sparta is the last VOR fix prior to ewr on arrs from the nnw. Clearance was sparta direct ewr. Ewr, however, has no NAVAID on the field to navigation to. Normal procedure is to receive an assigned heading for sequencing as you approach sparta VOR. Having no heading assigned, we continued on the inbound heading over sparta VOR. Shortly after passing the VOR, the controller cleared us out of 6000 ft, descend and maintain 5000 ft, turn left (about 90 degrees) 'keep the turn tight.' he then gave a turn to another aircraft. At that moment we got a TCASII TA. We hurried out of 6000 ft as we turned to avoid conflict. Conclusions: 1) a clearance from a NAVAID to a point with no NAVAID (with no RNAV) should not be given. 2) if it needs to be, a specific heading should be assigned, passing the NAVAID.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MLG GIVEN CLRNC DIRECT WITH NO NAVAID ON FIELD.

Narrative: SPARTA IS THE LAST VOR FIX PRIOR TO EWR ON ARRS FROM THE NNW. CLRNC WAS SPARTA DIRECT EWR. EWR, HOWEVER, HAS NO NAVAID ON THE FIELD TO NAV TO. NORMAL PROC IS TO RECEIVE AN ASSIGNED HDG FOR SEQUENCING AS YOU APCH SPARTA VOR. HAVING NO HDG ASSIGNED, WE CONTINUED ON THE INBOUND HDG OVER SPARTA VOR. SHORTLY AFTER PASSING THE VOR, THE CTLR CLRED US OUT OF 6000 FT, DSND AND MAINTAIN 5000 FT, TURN L (ABOUT 90 DEGS) 'KEEP THE TURN TIGHT.' HE THEN GAVE A TURN TO ANOTHER ACFT. AT THAT MOMENT WE GOT A TCASII TA. WE HURRIED OUT OF 6000 FT AS WE TURNED TO AVOID CONFLICT. CONCLUSIONS: 1) A CLRNC FROM A NAVAID TO A POINT WITH NO NAVAID (WITH NO RNAV) SHOULD NOT BE GIVEN. 2) IF IT NEEDS TO BE, A SPECIFIC HDG SHOULD BE ASSIGNED, PASSING THE NAVAID.

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.