Small aircraft got off course while flying between mrb and mol.

Attributes
ACN	349830
Time
Date	199610
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : mrb
State Reference	VA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 8000 msl bound upper : 8000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute airway : v3
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time type : 700
ASRS Report	349830
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was navigating to the montebello VOR heading approximately 200 degrees. The VOR idented and needle came in. Center called I was not on course and to get on course. So I rechked montebello VOR, reidented the VOR, all was fine. Finally center came back again unhappy that I was not on course and explained to navigation off martinsburg VOR which I then did and all was well. The problem was I wasn't 1/2 way to navigation off montebello VOR, but it came in and I used it thinking it would work.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA GOT OFF COURSE WHILE FLYING BTWN MRB AND MOL.

Narrative: I WAS NAVING TO THE MONTEBELLO VOR HEADING APPROX 200 DEGS. THE VOR IDENTED AND NEEDLE CAME IN. CTR CALLED I WAS NOT ON COURSE AND TO GET ON COURSE. SO I RECHKED MONTEBELLO VOR, REIDENTED THE VOR, ALL WAS FINE. FINALLY CTR CAME BACK AGAIN UNHAPPY THAT I WAS NOT ON COURSE AND EXPLAINED TO NAV OFF MARTINSBURG VOR WHICH I THEN DID AND ALL WAS WELL. THE PROB WAS I WASN'T 1/2 WAY TO NAV OFF MONTEBELLO VOR, BUT IT CAME IN AND I USED IT THINKING IT WOULD WORK.

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.