A C172 pilot deviated from cleared track when he followed his misprogrammed GPS.

Attributes
ACN	714650
Time
Date	200610
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : sax.vortac
State Reference	NJ
Altitude	msl single value : 4000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : n90.tracon
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 12 flight time total : 390 flight time type : 360
ASRS Report	714650
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : departure
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllerb
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance controller : issued advisory flight crew : returned to intended or assigned course
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Aircraft
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Instructed to fly direct to the VOR (sax); for a brief moment I deviated to the east because I followed the GPS indication instead of the VOR/navigation. The GPS was set for a different NAVAID. The controller saw my deviation and gave me the correct vector. The lesson; for me; navigation by the method (legal) that you have selected. I fell for the 'the GPS is always correct' idea. GPS do fail; and above all; they need to be set to the correct NAVAID.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A C172 PLT DEVIATED FROM CLRED TRACK WHEN HE FOLLOWED HIS MISPROGRAMMED GPS.

Narrative: INSTRUCTED TO FLY DIRECT TO THE VOR (SAX); FOR A BRIEF MOMENT I DEVIATED TO THE E BECAUSE I FOLLOWED THE GPS INDICATION INSTEAD OF THE VOR/NAV. THE GPS WAS SET FOR A DIFFERENT NAVAID. THE CTLR SAW MY DEV AND GAVE ME THE CORRECT VECTOR. THE LESSON; FOR ME; NAV BY THE METHOD (LEGAL) THAT YOU HAVE SELECTED. I FELL FOR THE 'THE GPS IS ALWAYS CORRECT' IDEA. GPS DO FAIL; AND ABOVE ALL; THEY NEED TO BE SET TO THE CORRECT NAVAID.

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.