B727 flight crew realize their self-induced automation error, regain communication with ZAB who advises of their restr airspace violation.

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Attributes
ACN	526424
Time
Date	200110
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : ewm.vortac
State Reference	TX
Altitude	msl single value : 35000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zab.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B727-200
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	other vortac
Route In Use	enroute airway : j4.airway
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 45 flight time total : 5000 flight time type : 2000
ASRS Report	526424
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe airspace violation : entry conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : clearance non adherence : published procedure other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	atc equipment other atc equipment : radar other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued advisory controller : issued new clearance controller : separated traffic flight crew : overcame equipment problem flight crew : overrode automation flight crew : returned to intended or assigned course flight crew : exited penetrated airspace
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 at cruise, we received a heading until receiving the newman VOR (ewn). Both pilots had incorrectly set the improper frequency for ewn. Despite this, the VOR bearing pointer appeared to point correctly. No DME was received. However, during this period, we missed a radio frequency change and lost contact with ZAB. When we recognized our incorrect VOR setting, we were just about 20 mi west of ewn and approximately 4 mi north of J4 -- our flight planned route. We subsequently regained contact with ZAB. They advised we had encroached on restr area airspace, but it was ok. Traffic in the area was rerouted away from us. We continued to our destination uneventfully. Poor VOR identing procedures on our part combined with missing the radio frequency change created this error. We discovered our error when our flight plan estimate for ewn was referenced (late but finally). A GPS receiver onboard may have helped us avoid this error.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B727 FLC REALIZE THEIR SELF-INDUCED AUTOMATION ERROR, REGAIN COM WITH ZAB WHO ADVISES OF THEIR RESTR AIRSPACE VIOLATION.

Narrative: WHILE AT CRUISE, WE RECEIVED A HEADING UNTIL RECEIVING THE NEWMAN VOR (EWN). BOTH PLTS HAD INCORRECTLY SET THE IMPROPER FREQ FOR EWN. DESPITE THIS, THE VOR BEARING POINTER APPEARED TO POINT CORRECTLY. NO DME WAS RECEIVED. HOWEVER, DURING THIS PERIOD, WE MISSED A RADIO FREQ CHANGE AND LOST CONTACT WITH ZAB. WHEN WE RECOGNIZED OUR INCORRECT VOR SETTING, WE WERE JUST ABOUT 20 MI W OF EWN AND APPROX 4 MI N OF J4 -- OUR FLT PLANNED RTE. WE SUBSEQUENTLY REGAINED CONTACT WITH ZAB. THEY ADVISED WE HAD ENCROACHED ON RESTR AREA AIRSPACE, BUT IT WAS OK. TFC IN THE AREA WAS REROUTED AWAY FROM US. WE CONTINUED TO OUR DEST UNEVENTFULLY. POOR VOR IDENTING PROCS ON OUR PART COMBINED WITH MISSING THE RADIO FREQ CHANGE CREATED THIS ERROR. WE DISCOVERED OUR ERROR WHEN OUR FLT PLAN ESTIMATE FOR EWN WAS REFED (LATE BUT FINALLY). A GPS RECEIVER ONBOARD MAY HAVE HELPED US AVOID THIS ERROR.

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.