Center controller wakes up pilot to give heading correction.

Attributes
ACN	292983
Time
Date	199501
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : stl
State Reference	MO
Altitude	msl bound lower : 23000 msl bound upper : 23000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zkc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	SF 340A
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller radar : 6
ASRS Report	292983
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance non adherence : far other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance other other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

On 'commuter flight' SF34 was en route from dfw to ord on J105, at the STL320 45 the flight made a severe right turn off course into an air carrier departure northbound out of stl. When I asked what the aircraft's heading was the pilot stated 065 degrees, about 40 degrees off the airway. The pilot also stated he was sleeping, and going to correct back on course. I assigned the aircraft a 360 degree heading to avoid the departure. Again at the PIA230 040 some 10-15 min later the aircraft again made a severe right turn off course. The aircraft was just exiting my airspace and entering chicago ARTCC. I advised the chicago controller to keep a watch on the flight -- because of its severe turns. The time of night was XX30 pm. I informed FAA management of the pilot deviation. I was told to take no action. The lack of pilot awareness caused me to take extra effort in re- establishing separation between the en route commuter flight and the st louis departure. Also, caused me some concern if the pilot was really sleeping and the safety risk this flight was.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CTR CTLR WAKES UP PLT TO GIVE HDG CORRECTION.

Narrative: ON 'COMMUTER FLT' SF34 WAS ENRTE FROM DFW TO ORD ON J105, AT THE STL320 45 THE FLT MADE A SEVERE R TURN OFF COURSE INTO AN ACR DEP NBOUND OUT OF STL. WHEN I ASKED WHAT THE ACFT'S HDG WAS THE PLT STATED 065 DEGS, ABOUT 40 DEGS OFF THE AIRWAY. THE PLT ALSO STATED HE WAS SLEEPING, AND GOING TO CORRECT BACK ON COURSE. I ASSIGNED THE ACFT A 360 DEG HDG TO AVOID THE DEP. AGAIN AT THE PIA230 040 SOME 10-15 MIN LATER THE ACFT AGAIN MADE A SEVERE R TURN OFF COURSE. THE ACFT WAS JUST EXITING MY AIRSPACE AND ENTERING CHICAGO ARTCC. I ADVISED THE CHICAGO CTLR TO KEEP A WATCH ON THE FLT -- BECAUSE OF ITS SEVERE TURNS. THE TIME OF NIGHT WAS XX30 PM. I INFORMED FAA MGMNT OF THE PLTDEV. I WAS TOLD TO TAKE NO ACTION. THE LACK OF PLT AWARENESS CAUSED ME TO TAKE EXTRA EFFORT IN RE- ESTABLISHING SEPARATION BTWN THE ENRTE COMMUTER FLT AND THE ST LOUIS DEP. ALSO, CAUSED ME SOME CONCERN IF THE PLT WAS REALLY SLEEPING AND THE SAFETY RISK THIS FLT WAS.

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.