B737 pilot made major heading change to capture VOR course.

Attributes
ACN	432870
Time
Date	199903
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
State Reference	NJ
Altitude	msl single value : 29000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-200
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 205 flight time total : 12000 flight time type : 4700
ASRS Report	432870
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : provided flight assist flight crew : returned to intended course
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

To center needle (after VOR passage), made a mega-heading change on my own. ATC saw this as possibly needing a heading to join, and then offered vectors to rejoin.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737 PLT MADE MAJOR HDG CHANGE TO CAPTURE VOR COURSE.

Narrative: TO CTR NEEDLE (AFTER VOR PASSAGE), MADE A MEGA-HDG CHANGE ON MY OWN. ATC SAW THIS AS POSSIBLY NEEDING A HDG TO JOIN, AND THEN OFFERED VECTORS TO REJOIN.

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.