PA28 pilot has a track and heading deviation during cruise.

Attributes
ACN	718322
Time
Date	200611
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : sna.airport
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl single value : 3000
Environment
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : las.tower
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	PA-28 Cherokee/Archer II/Dakota/Pillan/Warrior
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	other other vortac
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	arrival : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : private pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 35 flight time total : 3000 flight time type : 2000
ASRS Report	718322
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Aircraft
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

I was flying into sna when I was told to intercept the 363 degree radial off of pomona. I couldn't get it into the garmin 430 and had to be vectored to it. I realize this doesn't constitute the need for this report; but thought it might be helpful. I had purchased the garmin about 4 months before. I had practiced on it numerous times in VFR conditions. I had spent many; many hours working it. However; when this last min direction was given to me; I fiddled too long with the garmin. I should have just tuned it in on the old VOR system I had in the airplane. Although; I had spent about 15 hours or more in VFR conditions; learning the system; I guess when in IFR and thrown something at the last min; it caused problems. The remedy would have been to go to the old system. It didn't cause any problems and ATC didn't even mention it to me; but I feel as though I should have been able to find the radial without being vectored to it. I have since spent more time with the system practicing the above.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PA28 PLT HAS A TRACK AND HDG DEV DURING CRUISE.

Narrative: I WAS FLYING INTO SNA WHEN I WAS TOLD TO INTERCEPT THE 363 DEG RADIAL OFF OF POMONA. I COULDN'T GET IT INTO THE GARMIN 430 AND HAD TO BE VECTORED TO IT. I REALIZE THIS DOESN'T CONSTITUTE THE NEED FOR THIS RPT; BUT THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE HELPFUL. I HAD PURCHASED THE GARMIN ABOUT 4 MONTHS BEFORE. I HAD PRACTICED ON IT NUMEROUS TIMES IN VFR CONDITIONS. I HAD SPENT MANY; MANY HRS WORKING IT. HOWEVER; WHEN THIS LAST MIN DIRECTION WAS GIVEN TO ME; I FIDDLED TOO LONG WITH THE GARMIN. I SHOULD HAVE JUST TUNED IT IN ON THE OLD VOR SYS I HAD IN THE AIRPLANE. ALTHOUGH; I HAD SPENT ABOUT 15 HRS OR MORE IN VFR CONDITIONS; LEARNING THE SYS; I GUESS WHEN IN IFR AND THROWN SOMETHING AT THE LAST MIN; IT CAUSED PROBS. THE REMEDY WOULD HAVE BEEN TO GO TO THE OLD SYS. IT DIDN'T CAUSE ANY PROBS AND ATC DIDN'T EVEN MENTION IT TO ME; BUT I FEEL AS THOUGH I SHOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO FIND THE RADIAL WITHOUT BEING VECTORED TO IT. I HAVE SINCE SPENT MORE TIME WITH THE SYS PRACTICING THE ABOVE.

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.