Small aircraft pilot had track deviation in sdf class C airspace.

Attributes
ACN	496840
Time
Date	200012
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : jvy.bcstn
State Reference	IN
Altitude	msl single value : 2500
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : sdf.tracon
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Experimental
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	arrival : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 36 flight time total : 750 flight time type : 160
ASRS Report	496840
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	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 original clearance
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	Ambiguous

Narrative:

I understood the controller to have given me a vector of 160 degrees. He queried me after a few mins as to my heading. When I responded '165 degrees,' he said 'negative, sir, your heading should be 60 degrees.' I thought I'd read back the 160 degree hg, so I don't really know who goofed here.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA PLT HAD TRACK DEV IN SDF CLASS C AIRSPACE.

Narrative: I UNDERSTOOD THE CTLR TO HAVE GIVEN ME A VECTOR OF 160 DEGS. HE QUERIED ME AFTER A FEW MINS AS TO MY HDG. WHEN I RESPONDED '165 DEGS,' HE SAID 'NEGATIVE, SIR, YOUR HDG SHOULD BE 60 DEGS.' I THOUGHT I'D READ BACK THE 160 DEG HG, SO I DON'T REALLY KNOW WHO GOOFED HERE.

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.