Flight crew of BE02 is asked heading by center controller when flight is apparently 5 mi off course.

Attributes
ACN	388303
Time
Date	199712
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : bos
State Reference	MA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 10000 msl bound upper : 10000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zbw
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Beech 1900
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : cfi pilot : commercial
Experience	controller non radar : 6 controller radar : 6 flight time last 90 days : 160 flight time total : 2500 flight time type : 800
ASRS Report	388303
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 230 flight time total : 8000 flight time type : 6000
ASRS Report	388930
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation other

Narrative:

While flying out of boston en route to bgm, ATC gave us a heading of 270 degrees. Later they came back and asked us to intercept victor 270 on this heading. We complied and requested direct chester VOR. After a short while we were asked our heading, in which we replied 270 degrees to intercept victor 270 which was assigned. We then requested direct chester and asked the reason for the inquiry. The controller stated we were off the airway by 5 mi and then gave us direct chester. At this time of night it seems to be a common occurrence, for the controllers to ask your position.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLC OF BE02 IS ASKED HEADING BY CTR CTLR WHEN FLT IS APPARENTLY 5 MI OFF COURSE.

Narrative: WHILE FLYING OUT OF BOSTON ENRTE TO BGM, ATC GAVE US A HDG OF 270 DEGS. LATER THEY CAME BACK AND ASKED US TO INTERCEPT VICTOR 270 ON THIS HEADING. WE COMPLIED AND REQUESTED DIRECT CHESTER VOR. AFTER A SHORT WHILE WE WERE ASKED OUR HEADING, IN WHICH WE REPLIED 270 DEGS TO INTERCEPT VICTOR 270 WHICH WAS ASSIGNED. WE THEN REQUESTED DIRECT CHESTER AND ASKED THE REASON FOR THE INQUIRY. THE CTLR STATED WE WERE OFF THE AIRWAY BY 5 MI AND THEN GAVE US DIRECT CHESTER. AT THIS TIME OF NIGHT IT SEEMS TO BE A COMMON OCCURRENCE, FOR THE CTLRS TO ASK YOUR POS.

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.