An air carrier flight crew in a DC9 turned off of their assigned heading and conflicted with an air carrier A340. Both aircraft received RA's and the ARTCC radar controller intervened.

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Attributes
ACN	427691
Time
Date	199902
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : rod.vortac
State Reference	IN
Altitude	msl single value : 33000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zid.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	DC-9 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	climbout : vacating altitude
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zid.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	A340
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Route In Use	enroute other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 13000 flight time type : 500
ASRS Report	427691
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 8800 flight time type : 2000
ASRS Report	427797
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : clearance non adherence : far non adherence : required legal separation other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	atc equipment : conflict alert aircraft equipment : tcas
Resolutory Action	controller : separated traffic flight crew : took evasive action
Consequence	faa : investigated Other
Miss Distance	horizontal : 9000 vertical : 1400
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

Assigned a heading for traffic and cleared to resume climb. I had been on the assigned heading for several mins. I glanced at course indicator which showed us well left of course due to the assigned heading. On seeing how far off we were and that the VOR had already been passed and that we had about a 100 KT crosswind, I forgot we had been assigned a heading until further advised and turned to recapture the course. About 20 seconds or so into my incorrect turn the controller queried us and we got an 'RA.' I have made this mistake before, but had always caught it in time. I have since developed, and I think it is important to have, a reliable technique to remind oneself that a 'maintain assigned heading' instruction not be forgotten. Supplemental information from acn 427688: aircraft #1 was assigned a heading to provide lateral separation from aircraft #2 and for his climb. Aircraft #1 deviated from his assigned heading without clearance, causing loss of separation with aircraft #2. Subsequent turns were issued. RA's resulted from the deviation. Both lived.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN ACR FLC IN A DC9 TURNED OFF OF THEIR ASSIGNED HDG AND CONFLICTED WITH AN ACR A340. BOTH ACFT RECEIVED RA'S AND THE ARTCC RADAR CTLR INTERVENED.

Narrative: ASSIGNED A HDG FOR TFC AND CLRED TO RESUME CLB. I HAD BEEN ON THE ASSIGNED HDG FOR SEVERAL MINS. I GLANCED AT COURSE INDICATOR WHICH SHOWED US WELL L OF COURSE DUE TO THE ASSIGNED HDG. ON SEEING HOW FAR OFF WE WERE AND THAT THE VOR HAD ALREADY BEEN PASSED AND THAT WE HAD ABOUT A 100 KT XWIND, I FORGOT WE HAD BEEN ASSIGNED A HDG UNTIL FURTHER ADVISED AND TURNED TO RECAPTURE THE COURSE. ABOUT 20 SECONDS OR SO INTO MY INCORRECT TURN THE CTLR QUERIED US AND WE GOT AN 'RA.' I HAVE MADE THIS MISTAKE BEFORE, BUT HAD ALWAYS CAUGHT IT IN TIME. I HAVE SINCE DEVELOPED, AND I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO HAVE, A RELIABLE TECHNIQUE TO REMIND ONESELF THAT A 'MAINTAIN ASSIGNED HDG' INSTRUCTION NOT BE FORGOTTEN. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 427688: ACFT #1 WAS ASSIGNED A HDG TO PROVIDE LATERAL SEPARATION FROM ACFT #2 AND FOR HIS CLB. ACFT #1 DEVIATED FROM HIS ASSIGNED HDG WITHOUT CLRNC, CAUSING LOSS OF SEPARATION WITH ACFT #2. SUBSEQUENT TURNS WERE ISSUED. RA'S RESULTED FROM THE DEV. BOTH LIVED.

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.