MD80 crew was given a vector direct to a VOR. They do not go direct when able.

Attributes
ACN	411291
Time
Date	199808
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : tcc
State Reference	NM
Altitude	msl bound lower : 24000 msl bound upper : 31000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
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
Route In Use	enroute : direct enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
ASRS Report	411291
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
ASRS Report	411290
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Given vector, never went direct. Was given vector to tcc with direct when able. I, the first officer, continued on vector but never went direct tcc. About 30 NM east of tcc and 20 mi north ATC called and asked if we were direct yet. We answered that we were still flying heading and had not gone direct. He then gave us vector for direct ilc. Captain and I had a discussion going and I was flying. I remember the vector but not the cleared direct. Lately, with early wake- up calls it seems that I need be much more aware of my navigation situation. This is second time in 3 months where I have not naved as cleared. I can guarantee much closer attention in the future. Supplemental information from acn 411290: I thought I had put gth in for a time hack and fuel check. I had been distracted and never verified what I had put in the VOR. As we passed about 30 NM north of tus, ZAB asked if we were on a vector. I told him that we had an assigned heading for tus. That was when I realized we were indeed north of course. A classic case of not positively identing the NAVAID.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MD80 CREW WAS GIVEN A VECTOR DIRECT TO A VOR. THEY DO NOT GO DIRECT WHEN ABLE.

Narrative: GIVEN VECTOR, NEVER WENT DIRECT. WAS GIVEN VECTOR TO TCC WITH DIRECT WHEN ABLE. I, THE FO, CONTINUED ON VECTOR BUT NEVER WENT DIRECT TCC. ABOUT 30 NM E OF TCC AND 20 MI N ATC CALLED AND ASKED IF WE WERE DIRECT YET. WE ANSWERED THAT WE WERE STILL FLYING HEADING AND HAD NOT GONE DIRECT. HE THEN GAVE US VECTOR FOR DIRECT ILC. CAPT AND I HAD A DISCUSSION GOING AND I WAS FLYING. I REMEMBER THE VECTOR BUT NOT THE CLRED DIRECT. LATELY, WITH EARLY WAKE- UP CALLS IT SEEMS THAT I NEED BE MUCH MORE AWARE OF MY NAV SIT. THIS IS SECOND TIME IN 3 MONTHS WHERE I HAVE NOT NAVED AS CLRED. I CAN GUARANTEE MUCH CLOSER ATTN IN THE FUTURE. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 411290: I THOUGHT I HAD PUT GTH IN FOR A TIME HACK AND FUEL CHK. I HAD BEEN DISTRACTED AND NEVER VERIFIED WHAT I HAD PUT IN THE VOR. AS WE PASSED ABOUT 30 NM N OF TUS, ZAB ASKED IF WE WERE ON A VECTOR. I TOLD HIM THAT WE HAD AN ASSIGNED HEADING FOR TUS. THAT WAS WHEN I REALIZED WE WERE INDEED N OF COURSE. A CLASSIC CASE OF NOT POSITIVELY IDENTING THE NAVAID.

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.