<< >> NASA ASRS Report 381270, September 1997

Reported pilot deviation when air carrier turned some 70 degrees without communication with reporter to deviate around some WX.

Attributes
ACN	381270
Time
Date	199709
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : atl
State Reference	GA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 33000 msl bound upper : 33000
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 cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller non radar : 15 controller radar : 13 controller supervisory : 1
ASRS Report	381270
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
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:

Aircraft #1 was sbound, overflying atl, when the aircraft suddenly turned 70-75 degrees right without clearance. We noticed this after the aircraft had been on the new heading for about 2 mins and asked the pilot where he was going. He said he was deviating around some WX. We reminded him that it is customary for IFR aircraft to request permission prior to changing course. The aircraft subsequently turned back over atl. There was no violation of another sector or another aircraft's protected airspace. Radar did not indicate any precipitation in his path, nor were any other aircraft deviating. I can't emphasize how disconcerting it was to look up and see him so dramatically off course. We often encounter 'new' IFR pilots in small aircraft who, perhaps much more accustomed to VFR rules, will deviate off their assigned route without clearance -- this was the first time I've ever seen an air carrier pilot so dramatically off course without clearance.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: RPTED PLTDEV WHEN ACR TURNED SOME 70 DEGS WITHOUT COM WITH RPTR TO DEVIATE AROUND SOME WX.

Narrative: ACFT #1 WAS SBOUND, OVERFLYING ATL, WHEN THE ACFT SUDDENLY TURNED 70-75 DEGS R WITHOUT CLRNC. WE NOTICED THIS AFTER THE ACFT HAD BEEN ON THE NEW HEADING FOR ABOUT 2 MINS AND ASKED THE PLT WHERE HE WAS GOING. HE SAID HE WAS DEVIATING AROUND SOME WX. WE REMINDED HIM THAT IT IS CUSTOMARY FOR IFR ACFT TO REQUEST PERMISSION PRIOR TO CHANGING COURSE. THE ACFT SUBSEQUENTLY TURNED BACK OVER ATL. THERE WAS NO VIOLATION OF ANOTHER SECTOR OR ANOTHER ACFT'S PROTECTED AIRSPACE. RADAR DID NOT INDICATE ANY PRECIPITATION IN HIS PATH, NOR WERE ANY OTHER ACFT DEVIATING. I CAN'T EMPHASIZE HOW DISCONCERTING IT WAS TO LOOK UP AND SEE HIM SO DRAMATICALLY OFF COURSE. WE OFTEN ENCOUNTER 'NEW' IFR PLTS IN SMALL ACFT WHO, PERHAPS MUCH MORE ACCUSTOMED TO VFR RULES, WILL DEVIATE OFF THEIR ASSIGNED RTE WITHOUT CLRNC -- THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME I'VE EVER SEEN AN ACR PLT SO DRAMATICALLY OFF COURSE WITHOUT CLRNC.

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.