B737 deviates from cleared course due to reception of wrong VOR on same frequency.

Attributes
ACN	417640
Time
Date	199810
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : gee
State Reference	NY
Altitude	msl bound lower : 21000 msl bound upper : 21200
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Navigation In Use	other vortac other vortac
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 210 flight time total : 20000 flight time type : 1000
ASRS Report	417640
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation
Situations
Navigational Aid	Unspecified

Narrative:

After takeoff, we were being vectored off route for traffic. Approximately 20 DME from gee on the 180 degree radial, ZOB cleared us 'direct to elkins.' clearance was to FL270, no heading was given. The flight crew tuned frequency 114.2 for elk and turned to course 270 degrees, proceeding direct to what was thought to be elk. Passing FL212, the first officer observed converging traffic on the TCASII, 800 ft above us. Climb was slowed and ATC was asked about traffic. At this time, ATC requested 'stop climb at FL210.' we stopped the climb and descended to FL210. No TCASII RA/TA occurred. ATC then asked the heading to elk, and advised us to take up a heading of approximately 210 degrees until receiving elk. Flight was continued without incident. Elk frequency 114.2 is shared with aylmer (yqo) near gee, yqo is tuned and received. A heading from ATC of 200-210 degrees would have prevented the problem, as would better diligence on the part of the air crew.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737 DEVIATES FROM CLRED COURSE DUE TO RECEPTION OF WRONG VOR ON SAME FREQ.

Narrative: AFTER TKOF, WE WERE BEING VECTORED OFF RTE FOR TFC. APPROX 20 DME FROM GEE ON THE 180 DEG RADIAL, ZOB CLRED US 'DIRECT TO ELKINS.' CLRNC WAS TO FL270, NO HDG WAS GIVEN. THE FLC TUNED FREQ 114.2 FOR ELK AND TURNED TO COURSE 270 DEGS, PROCEEDING DIRECT TO WHAT WAS THOUGHT TO BE ELK. PASSING FL212, THE FO OBSERVED CONVERGING TFC ON THE TCASII, 800 FT ABOVE US. CLB WAS SLOWED AND ATC WAS ASKED ABOUT TFC. AT THIS TIME, ATC REQUESTED 'STOP CLB AT FL210.' WE STOPPED THE CLB AND DSNDED TO FL210. NO TCASII RA/TA OCCURRED. ATC THEN ASKED THE HDG TO ELK, AND ADVISED US TO TAKE UP A HDG OF APPROX 210 DEGS UNTIL RECEIVING ELK. FLT WAS CONTINUED WITHOUT INCIDENT. ELK FREQ 114.2 IS SHARED WITH AYLMER (YQO) NEAR GEE, YQO IS TUNED AND RECEIVED. A HDG FROM ATC OF 200-210 DEGS WOULD HAVE PREVENTED THE PROB, AS WOULD BETTER DILIGENCE ON THE PART OF THE AIR CREW.

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.