Turned the wrong direction. Clearance interpretation.

Attributes
ACN	295218
Time
Date	199501
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : mdw
State Reference	IL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2000 msl bound upper : 2000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : mdw tracon : bwi
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Beech 1900
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 79 flight time total : 1710 flight time type : 67
ASRS Report	295218
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 308 flight time total : 2600 flight time type : 650
ASRS Report	295213
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance other
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Holding short of runway 22R at mdw, we received clearance to takeoff. We repeated to ATC 'cleared for takeoff runway 22R, left turn to 090 degrees,' and heard nothing to the contrary from mdw tower. After takeoff we turned left and turning through 100 degrees for 090 degrees the tower queried us as to our heading, the PNF (the captain) answered 'we're in a left turn to 090 degrees, passing through 100 degrees.' the tower replied 'you were supposed to turn right to 090 degrees, now turn right to 360 degrees, maintain 2000 ft.' we turned right to 360 degrees, subsequently turned right to 090 degrees when cleared, and contacted departure control. There seemed to be a miscom between the flight crew and the mdw tower. Both flight crew members believed it was to be a left turnout on departure to 090 degrees, while mdw tower believed we were going to be turning right on departure to our assigned heading. To the best of our knowledge there was no conflict with other traffic.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: TURNED THE WRONG DIRECTION. CLRNC INTERP.

Narrative: HOLDING SHORT OF RWY 22R AT MDW, WE RECEIVED CLRNC TO TKOF. WE REPEATED TO ATC 'CLRED FOR TKOF RWY 22R, L TURN TO 090 DEGS,' AND HEARD NOTHING TO THE CONTRARY FROM MDW TWR. AFTER TKOF WE TURNED L AND TURNING THROUGH 100 DEGS FOR 090 DEGS THE TWR QUERIED US AS TO OUR HDG, THE PNF (THE CAPT) ANSWERED 'WE'RE IN A L TURN TO 090 DEGS, PASSING THROUGH 100 DEGS.' THE TWR REPLIED 'YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO TURN R TO 090 DEGS, NOW TURN R TO 360 DEGS, MAINTAIN 2000 FT.' WE TURNED R TO 360 DEGS, SUBSEQUENTLY TURNED R TO 090 DEGS WHEN CLRED, AND CONTACTED DEP CTL. THERE SEEMED TO BE A MISCOM BTWN THE FLC AND THE MDW TWR. BOTH FLC MEMBERS BELIEVED IT WAS TO BE A L TURNOUT ON DEP TO 090 DEGS, WHILE MDW TWR BELIEVED WE WERE GOING TO BE TURNING R ON DEP TO OUR ASSIGNED HDG. TO THE BEST OF OUR KNOWLEDGE THERE WAS NO CONFLICT WITH OTHER TFC.

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.