Narrative:

During the late stages of flight from iah to ewr, we were flying direct to the pxt VOR on approximately a 060 degree heading. After pxt VOR, we were cleared to fly the warrd 4 arrival to ewr. The warrd 4 STAR requires flying a 046 degree radial out of pxt. Just prior to pxt, a flight attendant entered the cockpit. The first officer, flight attendant, and myself entered into a conversation. The discussion was not related to our flight. During the conversation we crossed the pxt VOR. I, however, missed that fact while involved in the discussion. Shortly thereafter, ZDC advised us to make a course correction to rejoin the warrd 4 arrival. My lack of attention to the task at hand caused us to deviate 6 mi off the arrival route. We deviated east of the airway, and very close, if not into restr area R4008. We quickly reintercepted the 046 degree radial off pxt, and continued the flight uneventfully. It has become very clear to me from this incident that although we had not yet entered a critical phase of flight, that increased vigilance is required when trying to fly the airplane, navigation a STAR, and take part in a 3-WAY conversation. I violated a cardinal rule in aviation -- 'fly the airplane.' I was distracted from my duties by no one's fault but my own, and it caused us to fly off course and dangerously close to rstr airspace. I hope it will never happen again.

Related reports:

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLC OF AN MLG FAILED TO TURN OVER A STAR FIX RESULTING IN ATC INTERVENTION TO BRING THEM BACK ON COURSE.

Narrative: DURING THE LATE STAGES OF FLT FROM IAH TO EWR, WE WERE FLYING DIRECT TO THE PXT VOR ON APPROX A 060 DEG HDG. AFTER PXT VOR, WE WERE CLRED TO FLY THE WARRD 4 ARR TO EWR. THE WARRD 4 STAR REQUIRES FLYING A 046 DEG RADIAL OUT OF PXT. JUST PRIOR TO PXT, A FLT ATTENDANT ENTERED THE COCKPIT. THE FO, FLT ATTENDANT, AND MYSELF ENTERED INTO A CONVERSATION. THE DISCUSSION WAS NOT RELATED TO OUR FLT. DURING THE CONVERSATION WE CROSSED THE PXT VOR. I, HOWEVER, MISSED THAT FACT WHILE INVOLVED IN THE DISCUSSION. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, ZDC ADVISED US TO MAKE A COURSE CORRECTION TO REJOIN THE WARRD 4 ARR. MY LACK OF ATTN TO THE TASK AT HAND CAUSED US TO DEVIATE 6 MI OFF THE ARR RTE. WE DEVIATED E OF THE AIRWAY, AND VERY CLOSE, IF NOT INTO RESTR AREA R4008. WE QUICKLY REINTERCEPTED THE 046 DEG RADIAL OFF PXT, AND CONTINUED THE FLT UNEVENTFULLY. IT HAS BECOME VERY CLR TO ME FROM THIS INCIDENT THAT ALTHOUGH WE HAD NOT YET ENTERED A CRITICAL PHASE OF FLT, THAT INCREASED VIGILANCE IS REQUIRED WHEN TRYING TO FLY THE AIRPLANE, NAV A STAR, AND TAKE PART IN A 3-WAY CONVERSATION. I VIOLATED A CARDINAL RULE IN AVIATION -- 'FLY THE AIRPLANE.' I WAS DISTRACTED FROM MY DUTIES BY NO ONE'S FAULT BUT MY OWN, AND IT CAUSED US TO FLY OFF COURSE AND DANGEROUSLY CLOSE TO RSTR AIRSPACE. I HOPE IT WILL NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN.

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.