Narrative:

Air carrier flight between ewr-bos. While PNF was on #2 VHF communication to get ATIS and gate assignment from company, ZBW issued clearance direct to pvd. PF inadvertently set bos VOR 112.7 and turned direct. Shortly ZBW issued clearance to descend to 16000 ft. As we began our descent, center called back to maintain FL200. Simultaneously TCASII showed another aircraft at 11 O'clock position, FL190, and ZBW turned us 90 degrees away from the traffic. Low wing turboprop was in sight. As it is widely known that workload is excessive at times, in a 2-MAN cockpit airliners, I suggest that we mandate automation in those areas that increase workload and are inexpensive to implement -- for example ACARS printers and data link for ATIS and company communications.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN ACR MLG FLC TRACK THE WRONG VOR AND GET OFF COURSE. THE ARTCC RADAR CTLR SEES THIS AFTER HE CLRS THEM TO START DSCNT AND STOPS THEIR DSCNT IN TIME TO PREVENT A CONFLICT.

Narrative: ACR FLT BTWN EWR-BOS. WHILE PNF WAS ON #2 VHF COM TO GET ATIS AND GATE ASSIGNMENT FROM COMPANY, ZBW ISSUED CLRNC DIRECT TO PVD. PF INADVERTENTLY SET BOS VOR 112.7 AND TURNED DIRECT. SHORTLY ZBW ISSUED CLRNC TO DSND TO 16000 FT. AS WE BEGAN OUR DSCNT, CTR CALLED BACK TO MAINTAIN FL200. SIMULTANEOUSLY TCASII SHOWED ANOTHER ACFT AT 11 O'CLOCK POS, FL190, AND ZBW TURNED US 90 DEGS AWAY FROM THE TFC. LOW WING TURBOPROP WAS IN SIGHT. AS IT IS WIDELY KNOWN THAT WORKLOAD IS EXCESSIVE AT TIMES, IN A 2-MAN COCKPIT AIRLINERS, I SUGGEST THAT WE MANDATE AUTOMATION IN THOSE AREAS THAT INCREASE WORKLOAD AND ARE INEXPENSIVE TO IMPLEMENT -- FOR EXAMPLE ACARS PRINTERS AND DATA LINK FOR ATIS AND COMPANY COMS.

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.