MD11 crew had track deviation.

Attributes
ACN	454600
Time
Date	199911
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : zid.artcc
State Reference	IN
Altitude	msl single value : 35000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zid.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-11
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 10 flight time total : 5000 flight time type : 1100
ASRS Report	454600
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued alert flight crew : returned to original clearance
Supplementary
Problem Areas	FAA Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Flight was from ind-sjc. Part of filed/cleared routing was: pawnee city (pwe), hayes center (hct), delta (dte). Prior to pwe, center cleared me direct 'hayes.' I read back 'direct hayes' and proceeded direct hct. Found out later that center meant hays (hys). My fault for assuming he meant hayes center when he said 'hays.' I heard what I wanted to hear since it was in my flight plan. This must happen a lot with 2 vors with similar names being only 116 NM apart.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MD11 CREW HAD TRACK DEV.

Narrative: FLT WAS FROM IND-SJC. PART OF FILED/CLRED ROUTING WAS: PAWNEE CITY (PWE), HAYES CTR (HCT), DELTA (DTE). PRIOR TO PWE, CTR CLRED ME DIRECT 'HAYES.' I READ BACK 'DIRECT HAYES' AND PROCEEDED DIRECT HCT. FOUND OUT LATER THAT CTR MEANT HAYS (HYS). MY FAULT FOR ASSUMING HE MEANT HAYES CTR WHEN HE SAID 'HAYS.' I HEARD WHAT I WANTED TO HEAR SINCE IT WAS IN MY FLT PLAN. THIS MUST HAPPEN A LOT WITH 2 VORS WITH SIMILAR NAMES BEING ONLY 116 NM APART.

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.