Air carrier captain misinterprets clearance, heading deviation.

Attributes
ACN	261335
Time
Date	199401
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : mgw
State Reference	WV
Altitude	msl bound lower : 10000 msl bound upper : 10000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : pit
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 120 flight time total : 7000 flight time type : 2000
ASRS Report	261335
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Descending towards pit, en route from fll, we were cleared direct mgw, V-469 to nesto intersection, cross nesto at 10000 ft. We were then handed off to pit approach, who told us (apparently) to depart nesto on a 330 degree heading. We mistook that clearance to be 'fly 330 degree heading', and did so. We were then told that we had 'missed nesto by 10 miles.' after the captain and controller discussed their interpretations of the clearance we landed un-eventfully at pit. No known conflicts occurred! At the time of the clearance to fly 330 degrees from nesto I (PNF) was flipping to the proper approach chart, preparing the flight attendants for arrival, etc. Also, my VOR was tuned ahead to the pit airport (monitor VOR). Nonetheless, I still should have heard the clearance, and therefore noticed the error!

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR CAPT MISINTERPRETS CLRNC, HDG DEV.

Narrative: DSNDING TOWARDS PIT, ENRTE FROM FLL, WE WERE CLRED DIRECT MGW, V-469 TO NESTO INTXN, CROSS NESTO AT 10000 FT. WE WERE THEN HANDED OFF TO PIT APCH, WHO TOLD US (APPARENTLY) TO DEPART NESTO ON A 330 DEG HDG. WE MISTOOK THAT CLRNC TO BE 'FLY 330 DEG HDG', AND DID SO. WE WERE THEN TOLD THAT WE HAD 'MISSED NESTO BY 10 MILES.' AFTER THE CAPT AND CTLR DISCUSSED THEIR INTERPRETATIONS OF THE CLRNC WE LANDED UN-EVENTFULLY AT PIT. NO KNOWN CONFLICTS OCCURRED! AT THE TIME OF THE CLRNC TO FLY 330 DEGS FROM NESTO I (PNF) WAS FLIPPING TO THE PROPER APCH CHART, PREPARING THE FLT ATTENDANTS FOR ARR, ETC. ALSO, MY VOR WAS TUNED AHEAD TO THE PIT ARPT (MONITOR VOR). NONETHELESS, I STILL SHOULD HAVE HEARD THE CLRNC, AND THEREFORE NOTICED THE 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.