<< >> NASA ASRS Report 371880, June 1997

Small transport aircraft with a direct clearance. Pilot programmed the FMS, but forgot to select navigation. Because selector remained in heading mode aircraft went off course until controller intervened.

Attributes
ACN	371880
Time
Date	199706
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : seg
State Reference	PA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 31000 msl bound upper : 31000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zny
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 80 flight time total : 4000 flight time type : 500
ASRS Report	371880
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other 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:

We were on a routine flight from swf to okv. We were operating with FMS and flight director. We had been cleared direct seg VOR then fpl route. Prior to being cleared direct to seg VOR we had been given numerous heading vectors for climb. After receiving the 'direct to seg VOR' clearance the FMS was updated but the flight director was not selected to navigation. It remained in heading mode. The ZNY controller asked us if we would start our turn to the next waypoint while advising that our aircraft was off course. At this time we were approximately 6 NM off course. I reconfigured the flight director at that point. There was no indication of any kind that separation had not been maintained between other aircraft and our aircraft. The ZNY controller made no other comments.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMT ACFT WITH A DIRECT CLRNC. PLT PROGRAMMED THE FMS, BUT FORGOT TO SELECT NAV. BECAUSE SELECTOR REMAINED IN HEADING MODE ACFT WENT OFF COURSE UNTIL CTLR INTERVENED.

Narrative: WE WERE ON A ROUTINE FLT FROM SWF TO OKV. WE WERE OPERATING WITH FMS AND FLT DIRECTOR. WE HAD BEEN CLRED DIRECT SEG VOR THEN FPL RTE. PRIOR TO BEING CLRED DIRECT TO SEG VOR WE HAD BEEN GIVEN NUMEROUS HEADING VECTORS FOR CLB. AFTER RECEIVING THE 'DIRECT TO SEG VOR' CLRNC THE FMS WAS UPDATED BUT THE FLT DIRECTOR WAS NOT SELECTED TO NAV. IT REMAINED IN HEADING MODE. THE ZNY CTLR ASKED US IF WE WOULD START OUR TURN TO THE NEXT WAYPOINT WHILE ADVISING THAT OUR ACFT WAS OFF COURSE. AT THIS TIME WE WERE APPROX 6 NM OFF COURSE. I RECONFIGURED THE FLT DIRECTOR AT THAT POINT. THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF ANY KIND THAT SEPARATION HAD NOT BEEN MAINTAINED BTWN OTHER ACFT AND OUR ACFT. THE ZNY CTLR MADE NO OTHER COMMENTS.

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.