Heading track speed deviation in a non adherence to ATC clearance on approach.

Attributes
ACN	270530
Time
Date	199404
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : lax
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 4000 msl bound upper : 4000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : lax artcc : zob
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	A320
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : instrument pilot : flight engineer pilot : commercial pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 250 flight time total : 15000 flight time type : 250
ASRS Report	270530
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance other anomaly other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

While being vectored on the downwind leg for an ILS to 24R at lax, my copilot turned to a heading of 180 degrees when ATC instructed us to fly 180 KTS. I was concluding a cabin PA to prepare for landing when the radio call was received. I challenged the copilot on the heading change and immediately tried to contact socal approach for confirmation of the 180 degree heading. The final controller was so busy on the radio, that I could not break in. I tried twice to socal approach but was stepped on both times. Socal approach caught our deviation and instructed us to turn immediately to a new downwind heading and stop our descent. We immediately complied with ATC instructions and finished the approach without further incident. Note -- we were VMC during entire incident (on top of overcast). Final approach traffic was IMC.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: HDG TRACK SPD DEV IN A NON ADHERENCE TO ATC CLRNC ON APCH.

Narrative: WHILE BEING VECTORED ON THE DOWNWIND LEG FOR AN ILS TO 24R AT LAX, MY COPLT TURNED TO A HDG OF 180 DEGS WHEN ATC INSTRUCTED US TO FLY 180 KTS. I WAS CONCLUDING A CABIN PA TO PREPARE FOR LNDG WHEN THE RADIO CALL WAS RECEIVED. I CHALLENGED THE COPLT ON THE HDG CHANGE AND IMMEDIATELY TRIED TO CONTACT SOCAL APCH FOR CONFIRMATION OF THE 180 DEG HDG. THE FINAL CTLR WAS SO BUSY ON THE RADIO, THAT I COULD NOT BREAK IN. I TRIED TWICE TO SOCAL APCH BUT WAS STEPPED ON BOTH TIMES. SOCAL APCH CAUGHT OUR DEV AND INSTRUCTED US TO TURN IMMEDIATELY TO A NEW DOWNWIND HDG AND STOP OUR DSCNT. WE IMMEDIATELY COMPLIED WITH ATC INSTRUCTIONS AND FINISHED THE APCH WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. NOTE -- WE WERE VMC DURING ENTIRE INCIDENT (ON TOP OF OVCST). FINAL APCH TFC WAS IMC.

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.