Narrative:

After takeoff from runway 12 at stl, we were given a left turnout and directed to proceed directly to a VOR and then outbound on the 051 degree radial (gatwy 2) SID. I believe the captain had his RMI button depressed to the 'ADF' position and started turning wbound instead of eastbound out the 051 degree radial. We were directed a second time by ATC to proceed direct and then given a heading to fly at which point the problem was discovered and corrected. The rest of the flight was uneventful. I had the next VOR on the SID dialed in my VOR and was unaware of the problem until the second radio call from ATC. The situation arose immediately after takeoff and we were busy with 'cleaning-up' the aircraft and radio xmissions (frequency changes) and the WX radar trying to avoid several 'build-ups' in the area. I am not sure what can be done to prevent a reoccurrence of this situation. However, next time I will double check the captain's VOR/ADF selector and also tune in my own VOR to ensure compliance with ATC instructions on the first radio call from ATC.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CAPT OF A B737-200 TURNED THE WRONG WAY AFTER TKOF ON A SID DEP RESULTING IN ATC INTERVENTION ON 2 OCCASIONS TO BRING THE CAPT BACK TO THE SID COURSE.

Narrative: AFTER TKOF FROM RWY 12 AT STL, WE WERE GIVEN A L TURNOUT AND DIRECTED TO PROCEED DIRECTLY TO A VOR AND THEN OUTBOUND ON THE 051 DEG RADIAL (GATWY 2) SID. I BELIEVE THE CAPT HAD HIS RMI BUTTON DEPRESSED TO THE 'ADF' POS AND STARTED TURNING WBOUND INSTEAD OF EBOUND OUT THE 051 DEG RADIAL. WE WERE DIRECTED A SECOND TIME BY ATC TO PROCEED DIRECT AND THEN GIVEN A HEADING TO FLY AT WHICH POINT THE PROB WAS DISCOVERED AND CORRECTED. THE REST OF THE FLT WAS UNEVENTFUL. I HAD THE NEXT VOR ON THE SID DIALED IN MY VOR AND WAS UNAWARE OF THE PROB UNTIL THE SECOND RADIO CALL FROM ATC. THE SIT AROSE IMMEDIATELY AFTER TKOF AND WE WERE BUSY WITH 'CLEANING-UP' THE ACFT AND RADIO XMISSIONS (FREQ CHANGES) AND THE WX RADAR TRYING TO AVOID SEVERAL 'BUILD-UPS' IN THE AREA. I AM NOT SURE WHAT CAN BE DONE TO PREVENT A REOCCURRENCE OF THIS SIT. HOWEVER, NEXT TIME I WILL DOUBLE CHK THE CAPT'S VOR/ADF SELECTOR AND ALSO TUNE IN MY OWN VOR TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH ATC INSTRUCTIONS ON THE FIRST RADIO CALL FROM ATC.

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.