A B737 captain improperly loaded the FMS, causing a heading deviation with ZLC.

Attributes
ACN	515660
Time
Date	200106
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
State Reference	UT
Altitude	msl single value : 39000
Environment
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zoa.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
ASRS Report	515660
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure non adherence : company policies non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Previous center, ZDV, cleared us for direct from mtu to oal. We acknowledged, but failed to execute in FMS. Thus, proceeded in error via original planned route via dta. 40 NM east of dta, ZLC asked us if we were proceeding direct oal. We acknowledged our error and proceeded direct from current position. Possible distraction due to focus on dodging buildups through entire route.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B737 CAPT IMPROPERLY LOADED THE FMS, CAUSING A HDG DEV WITH ZLC.

Narrative: PREVIOUS CTR, ZDV, CLRED US FOR DIRECT FROM MTU TO OAL. WE ACKNOWLEDGED, BUT FAILED TO EXECUTE IN FMS. THUS, PROCEEDED IN ERROR VIA ORIGINAL PLANNED RTE VIA DTA. 40 NM E OF DTA, ZLC ASKED US IF WE WERE PROCEEDING DIRECT OAL. WE ACKNOWLEDGED OUR ERROR AND PROCEEDED DIRECT FROM CURRENT POS. POSSIBLE DISTR DUE TO FOCUS ON DODGING BUILDUPS THROUGH ENTIRE RTE.

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.