Medium large transport crew had track deviation.

Attributes
ACN	442370
Time
Date	199907
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : cwk.vortac
State Reference	TX
Altitude	msl bound lower : 19000 msl bound upper : 19500
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Weather Elements	Thunderstorm
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zhu.artcc
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	climbout : vacating altitude
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 160 flight time total : 10700 flight time type : 3500
ASRS Report	442370
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

On departure level at 17000 ft MSL, given heading 310 degrees to intercept cwk 285 degree radial. Changed frequency and new controller told us to turn 20 degrees right. Then told to climb to FL230, expedite through FL220. We thought he still wanted us to intercept the cwk 285 degrees and did that. But he wanted us to stay on the heading as it turns out. He amended our cleared altitude to FL190, but with our expediting the climb, we were already past that altitude. After several exchanges, given a heading and cleared to FL230. We thought we were doing what the controller wanted, but miscom/misunderstanding may have caused a traffic conflict. If we had thought to clarify, it would have solved the problem.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MLG CREW HAD TRACK DEV.

Narrative: ON DEP LEVEL AT 17000 FT MSL, GIVEN HDG 310 DEGS TO INTERCEPT CWK 285 DEG RADIAL. CHANGED FREQ AND NEW CTLR TOLD US TO TURN 20 DEGS R. THEN TOLD TO CLB TO FL230, EXPEDITE THROUGH FL220. WE THOUGHT HE STILL WANTED US TO INTERCEPT THE CWK 285 DEGS AND DID THAT. BUT HE WANTED US TO STAY ON THE HEADING AS IT TURNS OUT. HE AMENDED OUR CLRED ALT TO FL190, BUT WITH OUR EXPEDITING THE CLB, WE WERE ALREADY PAST THAT ALT. AFTER SEVERAL EXCHANGES, GIVEN A HEADING AND CLRED TO FL230. WE THOUGHT WE WERE DOING WHAT THE CTLR WANTED, BUT MISCOM/MISUNDERSTANDING MAY HAVE CAUSED A TFC CONFLICT. IF WE HAD THOUGHT TO CLARIFY, IT WOULD HAVE SOLVED THE PROB.

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.