B727 flight crew turn wrong direction than assigned by ZKC.

Attributes
ACN	499562
Time
Date	200101
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : enl.vortac
State Reference	IL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 29000 msl bound upper : 31000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zkc.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B727 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zkc.artcc
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 160 flight time total : 14000 flight time type : 900
ASRS Report	499562
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 90 flight time total : 3800 flight time type : 65
ASRS Report	50060
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Resolutory Action	controller : separated traffic controller : issued new 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:

While en route between centralia (enl) and iowa city (iow), we were directed by ATC to turn 20 degrees left. The first officer inadvertently commenced a turn to the right. ATC saw this and directed an immediate turn to the left and a descent to FL290. Shortly thereafter, we were cleared back on course and cleared to climb back to FL310. The controller queried as to his original instruction and we confirmed that it was a 20 degree turn to the left. A possible contributing factor to this event may have been fatigue. Our wake-up calls that morning were at approximately XA15.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B727 FLC TURN WRONG DIRECTION THAN ASSIGNED BY ZKC.

Narrative: WHILE ENRTE BTWN CENTRALIA (ENL) AND IOWA CITY (IOW), WE WERE DIRECTED BY ATC TO TURN 20 DEGS L. THE FO INADVERTENTLY COMMENCED A TURN TO THE R. ATC SAW THIS AND DIRECTED AN IMMEDIATE TURN TO THE L AND A DSCNT TO FL290. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, WE WERE CLRED BACK ON COURSE AND CLRED TO CLB BACK TO FL310. THE CTLR QUERIED AS TO HIS ORIGINAL INSTRUCTION AND WE CONFIRMED THAT IT WAS A 20 DEG TURN TO THE L. A POSSIBLE CONTRIBUTING FACTOR TO THIS EVENT MAY HAVE BEEN FATIGUE. OUR WAKE-UP CALLS THAT MORNING WERE AT APPROX XA15.

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.