Narrative:

Cleared to blh via 260 degree heading to intercept pxr 270 degree radial nwbound. Needed to do VOR check in air per crash fire rescue equipment 91.171. During initial climb, aircraft had slight but unusual vibration. While trying to do the VOR check, switched communication frequencys. While distraction by the vibration, I forgot all about the pxr 270 degree radial. The controller only said, 'fly heading 260 degrees, maintain 5000 ft' which, at the time, sounded odd because that was what I was already doing. Only later did I realize my error. I am not sure if I had reached the radial by the time I got the clearance.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: C172 PLT DEVIATES FROM CLRED RTE IN PHX AIRSPACE.

Narrative: CLRED TO BLH VIA 260 DEG HDG TO INTERCEPT PXR 270 DEG RADIAL NWBOUND. NEEDED TO DO VOR CHK IN AIR PER CFR 91.171. DURING INITIAL CLB, ACFT HAD SLIGHT BUT UNUSUAL VIBRATION. WHILE TRYING TO DO THE VOR CHK, SWITCHED COM FREQS. WHILE DISTR BY THE VIBRATION, I FORGOT ALL ABOUT THE PXR 270 DEG RADIAL. THE CTLR ONLY SAID, 'FLY HDG 260 DEGS, MAINTAIN 5000 FT' WHICH, AT THE TIME, SOUNDED ODD BECAUSE THAT WAS WHAT I WAS ALREADY DOING. ONLY LATER DID I REALIZE MY ERROR. I AM NOT SURE IF I HAD REACHED THE RADIAL BY THE TIME I GOT THE CLRNC.

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.