C172 pilot IFR deviation is noticed and corrected by departure controller.

Attributes
ACN	517040
Time
Date	200107
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : abe.airport
State Reference	PA
Altitude	msl single value : 6000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Marginal
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : abq.tracon
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 25 flight time total : 1000 flight time type : 280
ASRS Report	517040
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : returned to intended or assigned course none taken : detected after the fact
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

Cleared east texas VOR-V39-lancaster VOR-V499, then expect vectors to easton, md. Climbed to 6000 ft, crossed east texas VOR, thought I was crossing lancaster. Took southerly heading. Abe controller asked why I was diverting from flight plan about 30 seconds into mistake, corrected heading and resumed flight plan. Never left airway. Should have taken more time to plan times between waypoints. Error in judgement. Will not rush again.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: C172 PLT IFR DEV IS NOTICED AND CORRECTED BY DEP CTLR.

Narrative: CLRED EAST TEXAS VOR-V39-LANCASTER VOR-V499, THEN EXPECT VECTORS TO EASTON, MD. CLBED TO 6000 FT, CROSSED EAST TEXAS VOR, THOUGHT I WAS XING LANCASTER. TOOK SOUTHERLY HDG. ABE CTLR ASKED WHY I WAS DIVERTING FROM FLT PLAN ABOUT 30 SECONDS INTO MISTAKE, CORRECTED HDG AND RESUMED FLT PLAN. NEVER LEFT AIRWAY. SHOULD HAVE TAKEN MORE TIME TO PLAN TIMES BTWN WAYPOINTS. ERROR IN JUDGEMENT. WILL NOT RUSH AGAIN.

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.