Fokker 100 incurs track heading deviation en route to msp.

Attributes
ACN	454999
Time
Date	199911
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
State Reference	IA
Altitude	msl single value : 28000
Environment
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zau.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Fokker 100
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Route In Use	arrival : on vectors arrival other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
ASRS Report	454999
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine
ASRS Report	455000
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	atc equipment other atc equipment : radar other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance controller : issued advisory flight crew : returned to original clearance
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Heading west short of alo at XA50, I received an ATC call asking if I was proceeding alo. I said no, that I was on a 270 degree assigned heading. ATC said 'I gave you direct alo and you copied.' I said I was sorry and proceeded to alo. After thinking about what happened, it looks like I forgot to engage navigation on the F100 -- somehow I got distraction.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FOKKER 100 INCURS TRACK HDG DEV ENRTE TO MSP.

Narrative: HDG W SHORT OF ALO AT XA50, I RECEIVED AN ATC CALL ASKING IF I WAS PROCEEDING ALO. I SAID NO, THAT I WAS ON A 270 DEG ASSIGNED HDG. ATC SAID 'I GAVE YOU DIRECT ALO AND YOU COPIED.' I SAID I WAS SORRY AND PROCEEDED TO ALO. AFTER THINKING ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED, IT LOOKS LIKE I FORGOT TO ENGAGE NAV ON THE F100 -- SOMEHOW I GOT DISTR.

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.