MD88 with FMC map failure proceeds on wrong course before correcting after query by ARTCC near cry.

Attributes
ACN	441810
Time
Date	199906
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : cqy.vortac
State Reference	TX
Altitude	msl single value : 18000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zfw.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-88
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	descent : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 7500 flight time type : 600
ASRS Report	441810
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical non adherence : published procedure non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : returned to original clearance flight crew : returned to intended or assigned course flight crew : became reoriented
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft Flight Crew Human Performance Company
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Cleared direct cqy, then cleared direct howdy intersection, then map and electronic route failed in FMS. Used backup navigation but we forgot we were cleared direct howdy and we proceeded direct cqy. About 2 mins later, center asked if we were proceeding direct to howdy. We told center we had a map failure and would continue direct howdy. We had no further problems. Center gave us a heading to intercept the arrival southeast of howdy.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MD88 WITH FMC MAP FAILURE PROCEEDS ON WRONG COURSE BEFORE CORRECTING AFTER QUERY BY ARTCC NEAR CRY.

Narrative: CLRED DIRECT CQY, THEN CLRED DIRECT HOWDY INTXN, THEN MAP AND ELECTRONIC RTE FAILED IN FMS. USED BACKUP NAV BUT WE FORGOT WE WERE CLRED DIRECT HOWDY AND WE PROCEEDED DIRECT CQY. ABOUT 2 MINS LATER, CTR ASKED IF WE WERE PROCEEDING DIRECT TO HOWDY. WE TOLD CTR WE HAD A MAP FAILURE AND WOULD CONTINUE DIRECT HOWDY. WE HAD NO FURTHER PROBS. CTR GAVE US A HDG TO INTERCEPT THE ARR SE OF HOWDY.

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.