A C182 pilot ends up off course due to a clearance misunderstanding from ZFW.

Attributes
ACN	618720
Time
Date	200405
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : zab.artcc
State Reference	NM
Altitude	msl single value : 10000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zab.artcc
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Skylane 182/RG Turbo Skylane/RG
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	other other vortac
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Route In Use	enroute : direct enroute airway : v94.airway
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 34.7 flight time total : 21000 flight time type : 795
ASRS Report	618720
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued advisory controller : issued new clearance flight crew : returned to intended or assigned course flight crew : returned to original clearance
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	Ambiguous

Narrative:

Filed to fly from maf direct ink, V94, molly, direct to lru. Proposed time off at XA40Z, actual time off probably around XA55Z. While en route, I received clearance to go direct to ewm, a long leg, but I had filed as GPS equipped, making it possible. I received a frequency change to ZAB, and the controller informed me that my present course would bring me too close to the guadalupe mountains and that I should return to V94, which I did. I informed the controller how I was cleared, and he called ZFW, which denied that I was cleared that way. I traveled with my wife, who heard the clearance given me. Flight conditions were clear and unrestr visibility. I had the guadalupe mountains in sight long before this misunderstanding.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A C182 PLT ENDS UP OFF COURSE DUE TO A CLRNC MISUNDERSTANDING FROM ZFW.

Narrative: FILED TO FLY FROM MAF DIRECT INK, V94, MOLLY, DIRECT TO LRU. PROPOSED TIME OFF AT XA40Z, ACTUAL TIME OFF PROBABLY AROUND XA55Z. WHILE ENRTE, I RECEIVED CLRNC TO GO DIRECT TO EWM, A LONG LEG, BUT I HAD FILED AS GPS EQUIPPED, MAKING IT POSSIBLE. I RECEIVED A FREQ CHANGE TO ZAB, AND THE CTLR INFORMED ME THAT MY PRESENT COURSE WOULD BRING ME TOO CLOSE TO THE GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS AND THAT I SHOULD RETURN TO V94, WHICH I DID. I INFORMED THE CTLR HOW I WAS CLRED, AND HE CALLED ZFW, WHICH DENIED THAT I WAS CLRED THAT WAY. I TRAVELED WITH MY WIFE, WHO HEARD THE CLRNC GIVEN ME. FLT CONDITIONS WERE CLR AND UNRESTR VISIBILITY. I HAD THE GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS IN SIGHT LONG BEFORE THIS MISUNDERSTANDING.

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.