A SF340 turns to wrong heading after takeoff from crw, wv.

Attributes
ACN	379670
Time
Date	199709
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : crw
State Reference	WV
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2000 msl bound upper : 2000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : crw
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	SF 340A
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude climbout : initial
Route In Use	departure other enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent other
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 1300 flight time type : 200
ASRS Report	379670
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	atc equipment other atc equipment : unspecified other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course other
Consequence	Other
Miss Distance	horizontal : 9000 vertical : 500
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Departing charleston, we were given the instructions to climb and maintain runway heading off runway 23. The captain did not set the heading bug to runway heading, but left it on course 330 degrees. Climbing through approximately 400 ft AGL he initiated turn to the right (northwest) to intercept the course. Tower was talking to another small aircraft north of us when we were told to return to runway heading immediately. We did not have visual contact but did have the aircraft on TCASII between 1 and 2 mi north of our position. As the PNF, I was conducting the after takeoff check and was unaware that there was a potential conflict until the call from tower. The problem arose because of a failure to set the heading bug. As the PNF, I read back the climb instructions, but am uncertain as to whether the captain was clear on those instructions. The problem was rectified by ATC when we were given the additional instructions to return to runway heading.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A SF340 TURNS TO WRONG HDG AFTER TKOF FROM CRW, WV.

Narrative: DEPARTING CHARLESTON, WE WERE GIVEN THE INSTRUCTIONS TO CLB AND MAINTAIN RWY HDG OFF RWY 23. THE CAPT DID NOT SET THE HDG BUG TO RWY HDG, BUT LEFT IT ON COURSE 330 DEGS. CLBING THROUGH APPROX 400 FT AGL HE INITIATED TURN TO THE R (NW) TO INTERCEPT THE COURSE. TWR WAS TALKING TO ANOTHER SMALL ACFT N OF US WHEN WE WERE TOLD TO RETURN TO RWY HDG IMMEDIATELY. WE DID NOT HAVE VISUAL CONTACT BUT DID HAVE THE ACFT ON TCASII BTWN 1 AND 2 MI N OF OUR POS. AS THE PNF, I WAS CONDUCTING THE AFTER TKOF CHK AND WAS UNAWARE THAT THERE WAS A POTENTIAL CONFLICT UNTIL THE CALL FROM TWR. THE PROB AROSE BECAUSE OF A FAILURE TO SET THE HDG BUG. AS THE PNF, I READ BACK THE CLB INSTRUCTIONS, BUT AM UNCERTAIN AS TO WHETHER THE CAPT WAS CLR ON THOSE INSTRUCTIONS. THE PROB WAS RECTIFIED BY ATC WHEN WE WERE GIVEN THE ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTIONS TO RETURN TO RWY HDG.

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.