Narrative:

Due to distraction of crew member change, aircraft was either left in heading select or accidentally selected. Made a wide turn over ALS as descent was initiated. Clearance was direct ALS direct lbe which required about a 70 degree turn, therefore, a wide turn was required. Aircraft was not programmed to make turn till over ALS. No known conflicts. This was a typical 'distraction in the cockpit' 2-MAN aircraft scenario. All pilots were experienced and professional. The aircraft had been on a vector (in heading select mode) and then cleared direct ALS. Either LNAV was never reselected or the heading select button was hit. Error was discovered over ALS and a turn was initiated. Due to speed and winds, the 70 degree turn took aircraft outside of a normal airway. Another factor was the late hour for the crew.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B767 CREW MAKES LATE WIDE TURN OVER FIX AFTER DISCOVERING THAT THEY WERE IN HDG SELECT MODE INSTEAD OF LNAV.

Narrative: DUE TO DISTR OF CREW MEMBER CHANGE, ACFT WAS EITHER LEFT IN HDG SELECT OR ACCIDENTALLY SELECTED. MADE A WIDE TURN OVER ALS AS DSCNT WAS INITIATED. CLRNC WAS DIRECT ALS DIRECT LBE WHICH REQUIRED ABOUT A 70 DEG TURN, THEREFORE, A WIDE TURN WAS REQUIRED. ACFT WAS NOT PROGRAMMED TO MAKE TURN TILL OVER ALS. NO KNOWN CONFLICTS. THIS WAS A TYPICAL 'DISTR IN THE COCKPIT' 2-MAN ACFT SCENARIO. ALL PLTS WERE EXPERIENCED AND PROFESSIONAL. THE ACFT HAD BEEN ON A VECTOR (IN HDG SELECT MODE) AND THEN CLRED DIRECT ALS. EITHER LNAV WAS NEVER RESELECTED OR THE HDG SELECT BUTTON WAS HIT. ERROR WAS DISCOVERED OVER ALS AND A TURN WAS INITIATED. DUE TO SPD AND WINDS, THE 70 DEG TURN TOOK ACFT OUTSIDE OF A NORMAL AIRWAY. ANOTHER FACTOR WAS THE LATE HR FOR THE CREW.

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.