Narrative:

We were being vectored for the lda 18 approach at dca. Received clearance to descend to 3000 ft and turn to a heading of 230 degrees. First officer acknowledged roger, heading 230 degrees. A moment later, the controller told us to level at 4000 ft and wanted to know why we were not on a heading of 330 degrees. Use of the prefaces 'turn left' or 'turn right' when giving and acknowledging headings would act as an additional chance to catch an error. Controller was very busy and it is possible 'turn left' or 'turn right' could have been covered. Workload in the cockpit at that time was heavy due to WX deviations and many changes in the clearance.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737-300 TURNED TO 230 DEGS INSTEAD OF 330 DEGS AS ASSIGNED.

Narrative: WE WERE BEING VECTORED FOR THE LDA 18 APCH AT DCA. RECEIVED CLRNC TO DSND TO 3000 FT AND TURN TO A HDG OF 230 DEGS. FO ACKNOWLEDGED ROGER, HDG 230 DEGS. A MOMENT LATER, THE CTLR TOLD US TO LEVEL AT 4000 FT AND WANTED TO KNOW WHY WE WERE NOT ON A HDG OF 330 DEGS. USE OF THE PREFACES 'TURN L' OR 'TURN R' WHEN GIVING AND ACKNOWLEDGING HDGS WOULD ACT AS AN ADDITIONAL CHANCE TO CATCH AN ERROR. CTLR WAS VERY BUSY AND IT IS POSSIBLE 'TURN L' OR 'TURN R' COULD HAVE BEEN COVERED. WORKLOAD IN THE COCKPIT AT THAT TIME WAS HVY DUE TO WX DEVS AND MANY CHANGES IN THE CLRNC.

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.