B737-300 descending to 17000 ft is given heading 035 degrees, read back 335 degrees and turned to 335 degrees. Leaving FL290 got TCASII and saw traffic 700 ft above and 10 mi distant. Controller queried heading and requested aircraft turn to 035 degrees and expedite through FL290.

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Attributes
ACN	359279
Time
Date	199701
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : slc
State Reference	UT
Altitude	msl bound lower : 17000 msl bound upper : 29000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zlc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-300
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 15000 flight time type : 3000
ASRS Report	359279
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 13500 flight time type : 3500
ASRS Report	359010
Events
Anomaly	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:

Descending out of FL310 for 17000 ft MSL, we were given a turn to (we heard) 335 degrees. We read back and turned to 335 degrees, and to expedite through FL290. A short time later center asked if we were on 035 degree heading. We responded that we were on a heading of 335 degrees assigned. At about the same time we had a 'TA' on TCASII and observed an aircraft about 12 O'clock passing right to left and that we were below his altitude descending. I remarked that the heading we had taken decreased the separation instead of increasing it. At the time of the TA our closure was about 10 mi and we were below his altitude. The advisory went away at about this time. When we were asked to expedite through FL290 for traffic we were not given a range and bearing to the traffic. This may have prevented our making a turn in what was apparently the wrong direction. (Although we read back the heading we heard and it was not corrected by center.) we turned to 035 degree heading and then direct to slc as directed.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737-300 DSNDING TO 17000 FT IS GIVEN HDG 035 DEGS, READ BACK 335 DEGS AND TURNED TO 335 DEGS. LEAVING FL290 GOT TCASII AND SAW TFC 700 FT ABOVE AND 10 MI DISTANT. CTLR QUERIED HDG AND REQUESTED ACFT TURN TO 035 DEGS AND EXPEDITE THROUGH FL290.

Narrative: DSNDING OUT OF FL310 FOR 17000 FT MSL, WE WERE GIVEN A TURN TO (WE HEARD) 335 DEGS. WE READ BACK AND TURNED TO 335 DEGS, AND TO EXPEDITE THROUGH FL290. A SHORT TIME LATER CTR ASKED IF WE WERE ON 035 DEG HDG. WE RESPONDED THAT WE WERE ON A HDG OF 335 DEGS ASSIGNED. AT ABOUT THE SAME TIME WE HAD A 'TA' ON TCASII AND OBSERVED AN ACFT ABOUT 12 O'CLOCK PASSING R TO L AND THAT WE WERE BELOW HIS ALT DSNDING. I REMARKED THAT THE HDG WE HAD TAKEN DECREASED THE SEPARATION INSTEAD OF INCREASING IT. AT THE TIME OF THE TA OUR CLOSURE WAS ABOUT 10 MI AND WE WERE BELOW HIS ALT. THE ADVISORY WENT AWAY AT ABOUT THIS TIME. WHEN WE WERE ASKED TO EXPEDITE THROUGH FL290 FOR TFC WE WERE NOT GIVEN A RANGE AND BEARING TO THE TFC. THIS MAY HAVE PREVENTED OUR MAKING A TURN IN WHAT WAS APPARENTLY THE WRONG DIRECTION. (ALTHOUGH WE READ BACK THE HDG WE HEARD AND IT WAS NOT CORRECTED BY CTR.) WE TURNED TO 035 DEG HDG AND THEN DIRECT TO SLC AS DIRECTED.

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.