Narrative:

On departure on runway 36R out of dca, cleared to fly 36 noise abatement profile. This clears you to intercept the dca 328 degree radial outbound. The switch which controls VOR and LNAV functions did not go into VOR mode -- even though it showed this function, it was in LNAV mode. I didn't catch this and drifted south of course. Controller had cleared us to 9000 ft, but noticed course and told us to stay at 5000 ft with a turn to 180 degrees. Cycled VOR/LNAV switch and got proper indications. No prohibited or restr areas were crossed. Need to watch display and check VOR/LNAV switch for proper function.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737 CREW DID NOT FOLLOW THE NOISE ABATEMENT DEP RTE FROM DCA.

Narrative: ON DEP ON RWY 36R OUT OF DCA, CLRED TO FLY 36 NOISE ABATEMENT PROFILE. THIS CLRS YOU TO INTERCEPT THE DCA 328 DEG RADIAL OUTBOUND. THE SWITCH WHICH CTLS VOR AND LNAV FUNCTIONS DID NOT GO INTO VOR MODE -- EVEN THOUGH IT SHOWED THIS FUNCTION, IT WAS IN LNAV MODE. I DIDN'T CATCH THIS AND DRIFTED S OF COURSE. CTLR HAD CLRED US TO 9000 FT, BUT NOTICED COURSE AND TOLD US TO STAY AT 5000 FT WITH A TURN TO 180 DEGS. CYCLED VOR/LNAV SWITCH AND GOT PROPER INDICATIONS. NO PROHIBITED OR RESTR AREAS WERE CROSSED. NEED TO WATCH DISPLAY AND CHK VOR/LNAV SWITCH FOR PROPER FUNCTION.

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.