Captain listening to ATC by himself misinterprets assigned vector.

Attributes
ACN	314603
Time
Date	199508
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : act airport : ile
State Reference	TX
Altitude	msl bound lower : 4000 msl bound upper : 4000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : grk
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Brasilia EMB-120 All Series
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	descent other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 160 flight time total : 7200 flight time type : 2800
ASRS Report	314603
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other other : unspecified cockpit
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : became reoriented
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation other

Narrative:

We were enroute from act to ile on act R195 at 4000 ft. At approximately 30 DME the first officer called in range on communication 2. At that time the gray approach controller gave us directions to 'descend and maintain 3000 ft, turn right heading 240 degree vectors for the visibility approach at killeen.' I read back the transmission and began a turn and a descent. When the first officer came back on communication 1 I relayed the information to him. We both thought that the restricted area was active, and talked about what an odd vector that was because it would take us through the restricted area (R6302B). About that time we saw flashes and tracers ahead of us and heard a thump as something hit the aircraft. We began a left turn to heading 180 degree and questioned the controller about our vector. He stated that he had given us a heading of 240 degree off litle intersection (35A-act 195R) and gave us a heading of 180 degree. After landing at ile we inspected the aircraft and determined that we had experienced a bird strike with no aircraft damage. Although we came close to the restricted area, we never actually entered it. Next time I will question a vector that does not seem appropriate.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CAPT LISTENING TO ATC BY HIMSELF MISINTERPRETS ASSIGNED VECTOR.

Narrative: WE WERE ENROUTE FROM ACT TO ILE ON ACT R195 AT 4000 FT. AT APPROX 30 DME THE FO CALLED IN RANGE ON COM 2. AT THAT TIME THE GRAY APCH CTLR GAVE US DIRECTIONS TO 'DSND AND MAINTAIN 3000 FT, TURN R HDG 240 DEG VECTORS FOR THE VIS APCH AT KILLEEN.' I READ BACK THE XMISSION AND BEGAN A TURN AND A DSCNT. WHEN THE FO CAME BACK ON COM 1 I RELAYED THE INFO TO HIM. WE BOTH THOUGHT THAT THE RESTRICTED AREA WAS ACTIVE, AND TALKED ABOUT WHAT AN ODD VECTOR THAT WAS BECAUSE IT WOULD TAKE US THROUGH THE RESTRICTED AREA (R6302B). ABOUT THAT TIME WE SAW FLASHES AND TRACERS AHEAD OF US AND HEARD A THUMP AS SOMETHING HIT THE ACFT. WE BEGAN A L TURN TO HDG 180 DEG AND QUESTIONED THE CTLR ABOUT OUR VECTOR. HE STATED THAT HE HAD GIVEN US A HDG OF 240 DEG OFF LITLE INTXN (35A-ACT 195R) AND GAVE US A HDG OF 180 DEG. AFTER LNDG AT ILE WE INSPECTED THE ACFT AND DETERMINED THAT WE HAD EXPERIENCED A BIRD STRIKE WITH NO ACFT DAMAGE. ALTHOUGH WE CAME CLOSE TO THE RESTRICTED AREA, WE NEVER ACTUALLY ENTERED IT. NEXT TIME I WILL QUESTION A VECTOR THAT DOES NOT SEEM APPROPRIATE.

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.