B737-800 captain failed to program the LNAV feature of the FMS resulting in missing a clearance fix.

Attributes
ACN	541508
Time
Date	200203
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : eno.vortac
State Reference	DE
Altitude	msl single value : 21000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc.artcc tracon : sct.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-800
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other Other
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Route In Use	arrival star : korry 1
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : atp pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 10000 flight time type : 650
ASRS Report	541508
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : flight engineer pilot : multi engine pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 6500 flight time type : 1000
ASRS Report	541993
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued alert flight crew : took evasive action flight crew : returned to intended or assigned course
Miss Distance	horizontal : 18000 vertical : 300
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Dca to lga. Korry 1 arrival at FL210. Autoplt engaged. On an assigned heading off our routing, then cleared direct speak intersection. I activated new leg but neglected to select LNAV. I then started setting up for the approach into lga (different than I was expecting). I didn't notice the aircraft not turning after speak intersection. Copilot noticed us off course. At that point, I forgot the previous clearance and though we were still on assigned heading. At the same time, center called and asked if we were in a turn and we got a TA on traffic 1-2 O'clock position and 800 ft below. I started a 30 degree bank turn back to course. Estimated closest point to traffic, 3-4 mi and 200 ft. No RA. Factors: complacency -- flying same route for past 2 weeks. Procedures -- not xchking automation after executing new leg.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737-800 CAPT FAILED TO PROGRAM THE LNAV FEATURE OF THE FMS RESULTING IN MISSING A CLRNC FIX.

Narrative: DCA TO LGA. KORRY 1 ARR AT FL210. AUTOPLT ENGAGED. ON AN ASSIGNED HDG OFF OUR ROUTING, THEN CLRED DIRECT SPEAK INTXN. I ACTIVATED NEW LEG BUT NEGLECTED TO SELECT LNAV. I THEN STARTED SETTING UP FOR THE APCH INTO LGA (DIFFERENT THAN I WAS EXPECTING). I DIDN'T NOTICE THE ACFT NOT TURNING AFTER SPEAK INTXN. COPLT NOTICED US OFF COURSE. AT THAT POINT, I FORGOT THE PREVIOUS CLRNC AND THOUGH WE WERE STILL ON ASSIGNED HDG. AT THE SAME TIME, CTR CALLED AND ASKED IF WE WERE IN A TURN AND WE GOT A TA ON TFC 1-2 O'CLOCK POS AND 800 FT BELOW. I STARTED A 30 DEG BANK TURN BACK TO COURSE. ESTIMATED CLOSEST POINT TO TFC, 3-4 MI AND 200 FT. NO RA. FACTORS: COMPLACENCY -- FLYING SAME RTE FOR PAST 2 WKS. PROCS -- NOT XCHKING AUTOMATION AFTER EXECUTING NEW LEG.

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.