An air carrier MD80 flight crew got off course and as they realized this ARTCC controller was questioning their route of flight. The controller gave them a more direct clearance to the next VOR.

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Attributes
ACN	383479
Time
Date	199710
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : sjn
State Reference	AZ
Altitude	msl bound lower : 35000 msl bound upper : 35000
Environment
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zab
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-80 Super 80
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
ASRS Report	383479
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
ASRS Report	383480
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance non adherence : far other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Cleared cnx J-74 payso direct drake. Passing over sjn, noted captain dialing in radial. I dialed in drake for the direct portion of leg. 40 mi west of sjn, captain stated we were north of course and started correcting back to radial. At the same time center informed us we were north of course. Captain asked for direct drake from present position and received it. No further comments from ATC. Supplemental information from acn 383480: after a few mins I realized I was north of where I was supposed to be. At about the same time abq asked us if we were going direct drake. I then requested direct drake and abq approved same. I estimate that we were 8 mi north of J74 centerline. No conflicts noted. After flight I called dispatch to see if we could file J74 sjn direct drake and eliminate flying from a VOR to a fix direct to another VOR. VOR to VOR in my opinion is somewhat easier to remember.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN ACR MD80 FLC GOT OFF COURSE AND AS THEY REALIZED THIS ARTCC CTLR WAS QUESTIONING THEIR RTE OF FLT. THE CTLR GAVE THEM A MORE DIRECT CLRNC TO THE NEXT VOR.

Narrative: CLRED CNX J-74 PAYSO DIRECT DRAKE. PASSING OVER SJN, NOTED CAPT DIALING IN RADIAL. I DIALED IN DRAKE FOR THE DIRECT PORTION OF LEG. 40 MI W OF SJN, CAPT STATED WE WERE N OF COURSE AND STARTED CORRECTING BACK TO RADIAL. AT THE SAME TIME CTR INFORMED US WE WERE N OF COURSE. CAPT ASKED FOR DIRECT DRAKE FROM PRESENT POS AND RECEIVED IT. NO FURTHER COMMENTS FROM ATC. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 383480: AFTER A FEW MINS I REALIZED I WAS N OF WHERE I WAS SUPPOSED TO BE. AT ABOUT THE SAME TIME ABQ ASKED US IF WE WERE GOING DIRECT DRAKE. I THEN REQUESTED DIRECT DRAKE AND ABQ APPROVED SAME. I ESTIMATE THAT WE WERE 8 MI N OF J74 CTRLINE. NO CONFLICTS NOTED. AFTER FLT I CALLED DISPATCH TO SEE IF WE COULD FILE J74 SJN DIRECT DRAKE AND ELIMINATE FLYING FROM A VOR TO A FIX DIRECT TO ANOTHER VOR. VOR TO VOR IN MY OPINION IS SOMEWHAT EASIER TO REMEMBER.

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.