MD80 crew, turning to intercept airway, is given a 25 degree turn by ATC.

Attributes
ACN	501930
Time
Date	200102
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : sea.vortac
State Reference	WA
Altitude	msl single value : 17000
Environment
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zse.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-80 Super 80
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other vortac
Flight Phase	climbout : vacating altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zse.artcc
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Flight Phase	descent : vacating altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
ASRS Report	501930
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : multi engine
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft ATC Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Aircraft began turn onto intercept radial. Turning through 085 degrees, ATC called and said 'make immediate turn to heading 060 degrees.' we did so. Saw another aircraft on TCASII about 10 M away, descending 800 ft below. Inquired why the turn. Controller said we were about 5 mi south of course and diverging. I was monitoring VOR data and showed on course and gfms showed perfect intercept. I asked if there was problem and 'should we file an as soon as possible?' controller said no. Our navigation data never showed a deviation.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MD80 CREW, TURNING TO INTERCEPT AIRWAY, IS GIVEN A 25 DEG TURN BY ATC.

Narrative: ACFT BEGAN TURN ONTO INTERCEPT RADIAL. TURNING THROUGH 085 DEGS, ATC CALLED AND SAID 'MAKE IMMEDIATE TURN TO HDG 060 DEGS.' WE DID SO. SAW ANOTHER ACFT ON TCASII ABOUT 10 M AWAY, DSNDING 800 FT BELOW. INQUIRED WHY THE TURN. CTLR SAID WE WERE ABOUT 5 MI S OF COURSE AND DIVERGING. I WAS MONITORING VOR DATA AND SHOWED ON COURSE AND GFMS SHOWED PERFECT INTERCEPT. I ASKED IF THERE WAS PROB AND 'SHOULD WE FILE AN ASAP?' CTLR SAID NO. OUR NAV DATA NEVER SHOWED A DEV.

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.