B737 flight crew has a track and heading deviation during departure from sfo.

Attributes
ACN	718410
Time
Date	200611
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : sfo.vor
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl single value : 1000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : nct.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other other vortac
Flight Phase	climbout : initial
Route In Use	departure sid : quiet
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : multi engine pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 250 flight time total : 21000 flight time type : 7500
ASRS Report	718410
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance non adherence : published procedure other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

On taxi out to depart on runway 28L; our SID was changed from the san francisco eight to the quiet two departure red bluff transition. We quickly briefed the SID and the first officer made the takeoff followed by an immediate turn to 030 degrees. As we passed through the 350 degree radial from sfo VOR departure told us to turn left to 320 degrees for 'noise abatement.' I think he realized we had missed the turn to intercept the 342 degree radial and was doing us a big favor. I immediately looked at the SID plate and noticed that the 030 degree heading was to intercept the 342 degree radial and not for radar vectors on course. In retrospect we should have taken more time to familiarize ourselves with the departure. We also should have realized that with the VOR on the aircraft; the immediate turn to 030 degrees would have us crossing the 350 degree radial almost immediately.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737 FLT CREW HAS A TRACK AND HDG DEV DURING DEP FROM SFO.

Narrative: ON TAXI OUT TO DEPART ON RWY 28L; OUR SID WAS CHANGED FROM THE SAN FRANCISCO EIGHT TO THE QUIET TWO DEP RED BLUFF TRANSITION. WE QUICKLY BRIEFED THE SID AND THE FO MADE THE TKOF FOLLOWED BY AN IMMEDIATE TURN TO 030 DEGS. AS WE PASSED THROUGH THE 350 DEG RADIAL FROM SFO VOR DEP TOLD US TO TURN L TO 320 DEGS FOR 'NOISE ABATEMENT.' I THINK HE REALIZED WE HAD MISSED THE TURN TO INTERCEPT THE 342 DEG RADIAL AND WAS DOING US A BIG FAVOR. I IMMEDIATELY LOOKED AT THE SID PLATE AND NOTICED THAT THE 030 DEG HDG WAS TO INTERCEPT THE 342 DEG RADIAL AND NOT FOR RADAR VECTORS ON COURSE. IN RETROSPECT WE SHOULD HAVE TAKEN MORE TIME TO FAMILIARIZE OURSELVES WITH THE DEP. WE ALSO SHOULD HAVE REALIZED THAT WITH THE VOR ON THE ACFT; THE IMMEDIATE TURN TO 030 DEGS WOULD HAVE US XING THE 350 DEG RADIAL ALMOST IMMEDIATELY.

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.