Medium large transport flight crew has heading deviation when turning over VOR without clearance.

Attributes
ACN	355220
Time
Date	199612
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : hmv
State Reference	TN
Altitude	msl bound lower : 15000 msl bound upper : 15000
Environment
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : ztl
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	arrival other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 11000 flight time type : 3000
ASRS Report	355220
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other other : unspecified cockpit
Resolutory Action	other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

First officer was cleared direct hmv VORTAC, shine 56, into clt as we departed tri. Approaching hmv VORTAC in light to moderate turbulence, I decided to go off frequency and get clt ATIS and straighten out gate assignment that had changed twice. While off ATC frequency getting ATIS and talking to company, I noticed first officer cross hmv VORTAC and turn east 090 degrees. I incorrectly assumed he had been given a vector, which is an all too common occurrence arriving in clt. I came back on frequency a min later and questioned his heading at the same moment ATC queried the heading. We were approximately 10-15 DME from hmv. We turned south and quickly intercepted arrival.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MLG FLC HAS HDG DEV WHEN TURNING OVER VOR WITHOUT CLRNC.

Narrative: FO WAS CLRED DIRECT HMV VORTAC, SHINE 56, INTO CLT AS WE DEPARTED TRI. APCHING HMV VORTAC IN LIGHT TO MODERATE TURB, I DECIDED TO GO OFF FREQ AND GET CLT ATIS AND STRAIGHTEN OUT GATE ASSIGNMENT THAT HAD CHANGED TWICE. WHILE OFF ATC FREQ GETTING ATIS AND TALKING TO COMPANY, I NOTICED FO CROSS HMV VORTAC AND TURN E 090 DEGS. I INCORRECTLY ASSUMED HE HAD BEEN GIVEN A VECTOR, WHICH IS AN ALL TOO COMMON OCCURRENCE ARRIVING IN CLT. I CAME BACK ON FREQ A MIN LATER AND QUESTIONED HIS HDG AT THE SAME MOMENT ATC QUERIED THE HDG. WE WERE APPROX 10-15 DME FROM HMV. WE TURNED S AND QUICKLY INTERCEPTED ARR.

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.