Track deviation on departure from santa monica while flying a single pilot jet on an IFR flight plan...

Attributes
ACN	487490
Time
Date	200010
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : smo.airport
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2000 msl bound upper : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : sct.tracon tower : smo.tower
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Cessna Citation Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	climbout : initial
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : cfi pilot : multi engine
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 68 flight time total : 4700 flight time type : 430
ASRS Report	487490
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : departure
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance non adherence : published procedure other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllerb
Resolutory Action	controller : issued advisory flight crew : became reoriented
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was given a clearance to depart runway 21 at smo on runway heading then turn to 250 degrees (to parallel lax departures) after crossing the lax 310 degree radial which is around the shoreline. I pulled out a WAC chart that was at hand to get the lax VOR frequency. I read 113.8 but the actual lax frequency is 113.6. 113.8 is gaviota. As I crossed the shoreline I began an intermediate leveloff and wondered why the CDI wasn't ctring and why reception was intermittent. Tower did not hand me off so I called departure anyway. I had just started my turn when they finally answered me and warned me about the turn to 250 degrees. I had started it despite the VOR indications, having done this departure before, though I was 1-3 mi late. The WAC 113.6 really did look like 113.8 when viewed by tired eyes and eyes that may need a prescription for reading soon -- I don't wear glasses. It's a pretty beat up WAC chart too. I will either use reading glasses when I notice tired eyes or get out an approach plate that is easier to read. I fly single pilot.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: TRACK DEV ON DEP FROM SANTA MONICA WHILE FLYING A SINGLE PLT JET ON AN IFR FLT PLAN.

Narrative: I WAS GIVEN A CLRNC TO DEPART RWY 21 AT SMO ON RWY HEADING THEN TURN TO 250 DEGS (TO PARALLEL LAX DEPS) AFTER XING THE LAX 310 DEG RADIAL WHICH IS AROUND THE SHORELINE. I PULLED OUT A WAC CHART THAT WAS AT HAND TO GET THE LAX VOR FREQ. I READ 113.8 BUT THE ACTUAL LAX FREQ IS 113.6. 113.8 IS GAVIOTA. AS I CROSSED THE SHORELINE I BEGAN AN INTERMEDIATE LEVELOFF AND WONDERED WHY THE CDI WASN'T CTRING AND WHY RECEPTION WAS INTERMITTENT. TWR DID NOT HAND ME OFF SO I CALLED DEP ANYWAY. I HAD JUST STARTED MY TURN WHEN THEY FINALLY ANSWERED ME AND WARNED ME ABOUT THE TURN TO 250 DEGS. I HAD STARTED IT DESPITE THE VOR INDICATIONS, HAVING DONE THIS DEP BEFORE, THOUGH I WAS 1-3 MI LATE. THE WAC 113.6 REALLY DID LOOK LIKE 113.8 WHEN VIEWED BY TIRED EYES AND EYES THAT MAY NEED A PRESCRIPTION FOR READING SOON -- I DON'T WEAR GLASSES. IT'S A PRETTY BEAT UP WAC CHART TOO. I WILL EITHER USE READING GLASSES WHEN I NOTICE TIRED EYES OR GET OUT AN APCH PLATE THAT IS EASIER TO READ. I FLY SINGLE PLT.

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.