Pilot of E145 reports track deviation account malfunctioning FMS.

Attributes
ACN	672432
Time
Date	200509
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : zdc.artcc
State Reference	VA
Altitude	msl single value : 32000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	EMB ERJ 145 ER&LR
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Route In Use	enroute airway : j75.airway
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 110 flight time total : 8600 flight time type : 2070
ASRS Report	672432
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued alert controller : issued new clearance
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

During cruise phase of flight at FL320; while navigating J75 from gve the FMS dropped 3 fixes between gve and cae and decided to just go gve to cae VOR; dropping draik plus ? And gso. ATC queried us as to our routing; and at that time we noticed the error. We checked the flight plan in the FMS; and the fixes were there; it just skipped them. We informed ATC of the error and he had us go direct to gso and resume J75. No mention of other aircraft being deviated due to us. Remainder of the flight uneventful. Note: this is the 3RD time in the 3 yrs I have been flying the EMB145 that this has happened; the last incident over a yr ago.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT OF E145 RPTS TRACK DEV ACCOUNT MALFUNCTIONING FMS.

Narrative: DURING CRUISE PHASE OF FLT AT FL320; WHILE NAVIGATING J75 FROM GVE THE FMS DROPPED 3 FIXES BETWEEN GVE AND CAE AND DECIDED TO JUST GO GVE TO CAE VOR; DROPPING DRAIK PLUS ? AND GSO. ATC QUERIED US AS TO OUR ROUTING; AND AT THAT TIME WE NOTICED THE ERROR. WE CHKED THE FLT PLAN IN THE FMS; AND THE FIXES WERE THERE; IT JUST SKIPPED THEM. WE INFORMED ATC OF THE ERROR AND HE HAD US GO DIRECT TO GSO AND RESUME J75. NO MENTION OF OTHER ACFT BEING DEVIATED DUE TO US. REMAINDER OF THE FLT UNEVENTFUL. NOTE: THIS IS THE 3RD TIME IN THE 3 YRS I HAVE BEEN FLYING THE EMB145 THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED; THE LAST INCIDENT OVER A YR AGO.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.