Narrative:

About 120 NM from phx ZAB gave us a vector to intercept the phx 015 degree radial inbound (fossl 3 arrival). The vectors were all westerly since we were arriving from the ene. The center controller gave us about 5 different corrections, all decreasing from approximately 265 degrees to 240 degrees in 5 degree increments over a 80 NM distance. When we were 'handed off' to phx approach control he gave us a 220 degree heading for the final approach course. The PNF read back the heading and we turned to 220 degrees. I did not realize the vector was a vector for final however, and a few mi later turned to a heading of 195 degrees and intercepted the 015 degree radial as previously instructed. About 2 mins later the controller asked us our heading. The PNF informed me that 220 degrees was a vector for final and not to join the 015 degree radial. We corrected to 220 degrees immediately and informed the controller of our correction. The controller asked us why we had turned to 195 degrees. We did not respond immediately as the frequency started to get congested and the controller gave us another heading. The remaining arrival was uneventful. After we landed I telephoned the approach control supervisor to tell him we turned because we incorrectly thought we were still instructed to intercept the 015 degree radial due to a miscom. The supervisor did not know anything more about it and thanked me for the call. I now make sure that both crew members understand new instructions and clrncs.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLC OF A BEECH 1900 FAILED TO FOLLOW THE HEADING GIVEN BY ATC DUE TO A MISUNDERSTANDING OF VECTORS TO FINAL.

Narrative: ABOUT 120 NM FROM PHX ZAB GAVE US A VECTOR TO INTERCEPT THE PHX 015 DEG RADIAL INBOUND (FOSSL 3 ARR). THE VECTORS WERE ALL WESTERLY SINCE WE WERE ARRIVING FROM THE ENE. THE CTR CTLR GAVE US ABOUT 5 DIFFERENT CORRECTIONS, ALL DECREASING FROM APPROX 265 DEGS TO 240 DEGS IN 5 DEG INCREMENTS OVER A 80 NM DISTANCE. WHEN WE WERE 'HANDED OFF' TO PHX APCH CTL HE GAVE US A 220 DEG HDG FOR THE FINAL APCH COURSE. THE PNF READ BACK THE HEADING AND WE TURNED TO 220 DEGS. I DID NOT REALIZE THE VECTOR WAS A VECTOR FOR FINAL HOWEVER, AND A FEW MI LATER TURNED TO A HDG OF 195 DEGS AND INTERCEPTED THE 015 DEG RADIAL AS PREVIOUSLY INSTRUCTED. ABOUT 2 MINS LATER THE CTLR ASKED US OUR HEADING. THE PNF INFORMED ME THAT 220 DEGS WAS A VECTOR FOR FINAL AND NOT TO JOIN THE 015 DEG RADIAL. WE CORRECTED TO 220 DEGS IMMEDIATELY AND INFORMED THE CTLR OF OUR CORRECTION. THE CTLR ASKED US WHY WE HAD TURNED TO 195 DEGS. WE DID NOT RESPOND IMMEDIATELY AS THE FREQ STARTED TO GET CONGESTED AND THE CTLR GAVE US ANOTHER HEADING. THE REMAINING ARR WAS UNEVENTFUL. AFTER WE LANDED I TELEPHONED THE APCH CTL SUPVR TO TELL HIM WE TURNED BECAUSE WE INCORRECTLY THOUGHT WE WERE STILL INSTRUCTED TO INTERCEPT THE 015 DEG RADIAL DUE TO A MISCOM. THE SUPVR DID NOT KNOW ANYTHING MORE ABOUT IT AND THANKED ME FOR THE CALL. I NOW MAKE SURE THAT BOTH CREW MEMBERS UNDERSTAND NEW INSTRUCTIONS AND CLRNCS.

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.