An instructor and his student flying a PA28 near mco fail to maintain the heading assigned by ATC.

Attributes
ACN	444140
Time
Date	199907
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : omn.vortac
State Reference	FL
Altitude	msl single value : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : mco.tracon
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	PA-28 Cherokee/Archer II/Dakota/Pillan/Warrior
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	instruction : instructor oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 250 flight time total : 1000 flight time type : 650
ASRS Report	444140
Person 2
Affiliation	other
Function	instruction : trainee
Qualification	pilot : student
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended or assigned course
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

While en route from pie to dab on V-152 orlando approach instructed the flight to turn right to 070 degrees. Student complied and flew 070 degrees for approximately 3-4 mins. As CDI began showing off course student turned 030 degrees to re-intercept course without ATC clearance. I (the instructor) was scanning for traffic while the turn was being made. After approximately 30-40 seconds I realized the flight was no longer on assigned heading and instructed student to correct back to the assigned heading. Flight continued without further incident.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN INSTRUCTOR AND HIS STUDENT FLYING A PA28 NEAR MCO FAIL TO MAINTAIN THE HEADING ASSIGNED BY ATC.

Narrative: WHILE ENRTE FROM PIE TO DAB ON V-152 ORLANDO APCH INSTRUCTED THE FLT TO TURN R TO 070 DEGS. STUDENT COMPLIED AND FLEW 070 DEGS FOR APPROX 3-4 MINS. AS CDI BEGAN SHOWING OFF COURSE STUDENT TURNED 030 DEGS TO RE-INTERCEPT COURSE WITHOUT ATC CLRNC. I (THE INSTRUCTOR) WAS SCANNING FOR TFC WHILE THE TURN WAS BEING MADE. AFTER APPROX 30-40 SECONDS I REALIZED THE FLT WAS NO LONGER ON ASSIGNED HEADING AND INSTRUCTED STUDENT TO CORRECT BACK TO THE ASSIGNED HEADING. FLT CONTINUED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT.

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.