An air carrier B727 flight crew using the omega navigation system during a domestic operation got off course and required the prompt action of an alert controller to maintain separation as well as they did.

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Attributes
ACN	377510
Time
Date	199708
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : bwg
State Reference	KY
Altitude	msl bound lower : 33000 msl bound upper : 33000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zme
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : second officer
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 6000 flight time type : 2500
ASRS Report	377510
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : commercial pilot : flight engineer pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200
ASRS Report	377848
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : published procedure non adherence : clearance other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course other
Consequence	Other
Miss Distance	horizontal : 42000 vertical : 800
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Copilot flying, omega navigation coupled to the autoplt. Omega turned aircraft early approaching bwg VOR. Copilot noticed error, put in a 10 degree correction, but was slow to determine correction was insufficient due to 90 degree crosswind. Meanwhile, flight attendant entered cockpit, offering beverages to crew. While there, captain received a frequency change from center. Captain noticed spoiler float, extended spoiler handle to correct, stowed spoilers, and attempted frequency change to no avail. When he went back to previous frequency, center directed an immediate right turn and we noticed traffic on TCASII 800 ft above us. Closest horizontal separation during the turn was 7 mi. We had a TCASII TA during the turn. Center then verified correct frequency with captain and directed frequency change. I believe the primary cause was the slow reaction to automated navigation (omega) error. However, frequency confusion, a minor aircraft malfunction, and a flight attendant in the cockpit compounded the situation.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN ACR B727 FLC USING THE OMEGA NAV SYS DURING A DOMESTIC OP GOT OFF COURSE AND REQUIRED THE PROMPT ACTION OF AN ALERT CTLR TO MAINTAIN SEPARATION AS WELL AS THEY DID.

Narrative: COPLT FLYING, OMEGA NAV COUPLED TO THE AUTOPLT. OMEGA TURNED ACFT EARLY APCHING BWG VOR. COPLT NOTICED ERROR, PUT IN A 10 DEG CORRECTION, BUT WAS SLOW TO DETERMINE CORRECTION WAS INSUFFICIENT DUE TO 90 DEG XWIND. MEANWHILE, FLT ATTENDANT ENTERED COCKPIT, OFFERING BEVERAGES TO CREW. WHILE THERE, CAPT RECEIVED A FREQ CHANGE FROM CTR. CAPT NOTICED SPOILER FLOAT, EXTENDED SPOILER HANDLE TO CORRECT, STOWED SPOILERS, AND ATTEMPTED FREQ CHANGE TO NO AVAIL. WHEN HE WENT BACK TO PREVIOUS FREQ, CTR DIRECTED AN IMMEDIATE R TURN AND WE NOTICED TFC ON TCASII 800 FT ABOVE US. CLOSEST HORIZ SEPARATION DURING THE TURN WAS 7 MI. WE HAD A TCASII TA DURING THE TURN. CTR THEN VERIFIED CORRECT FREQ WITH CAPT AND DIRECTED FREQ CHANGE. I BELIEVE THE PRIMARY CAUSE WAS THE SLOW REACTION TO AUTOMATED NAV (OMEGA) ERROR. HOWEVER, FREQ CONFUSION, A MINOR ACFT MALFUNCTION, AND A FLT ATTENDANT IN THE COCKPIT COMPOUNDED THE SIT.

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.