MD80 crew had track deviation in sat class east airspace.

Attributes
ACN	485040
Time
Date	200009
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : sat.vortac
State Reference	TX
Altitude	msl single value : 9500
Environment
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : sat.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-80 Super 80
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : vacating altitude
Route In Use	arrival star : ns
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
ASRS Report	485040
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued alert controller : issued new clearance flight crew : returned to intended or assigned course
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Flight deviation. On descent into sat, we were given from 13000 ft to 6000 ft and a turn to 290 degrees at criss intersection. We misread intersection DME and started turn early at 23 DME versus 2 DME. Controller told us to turn back to sat 056 degree radial as we were passing approximately 9500 ft. No traffic conflict noted by ATC facility.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MD80 CREW HAD TRACK DEV IN SAT CLASS E AIRSPACE.

Narrative: FLT DEV. ON DSCNT INTO SAT, WE WERE GIVEN FROM 13000 FT TO 6000 FT AND A TURN TO 290 DEGS AT CRISS INTXN. WE MISREAD INTXN DME AND STARTED TURN EARLY AT 23 DME VERSUS 2 DME. CTLR TOLD US TO TURN BACK TO SAT 056 DEG RADIAL AS WE WERE PASSING APPROX 9500 FT. NO TFC CONFLICT NOTED BY ATC FACILITY.

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.