Late runway change on nordk RNAV STAR to slc results in route discontinuity and track deviation.

Attributes
ACN	770230
Time
Date	200801
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : slc.airport
State Reference	UT
Altitude	msl single value : 15000
Environment
Weather Elements	Fog
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : s56.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-80 Series (DC-9-80) Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	descent : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	arrival star : nordk
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
ASRS Report	770230
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : published procedure non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued advisory controller : issued new clearance flight crew : returned to intended or assigned course
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Chart Or Publication ATC Human Performance Aircraft
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance

Narrative:

Received a runway change between nordk and settt on the nordk one arrival. This caused a discontinuity. Tried selecting direct to settt but we must have been too close to settt. Aircraft started turning to what I thought was back on the arrival; but was instead trying to go back to settt. After about 20-30 degrees of turn; took over manually to turn back to course. In the turn back; ATC gave us a heading and queried us about our heading. Stayed on vectors till final approach.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: LATE RWY CHANGE ON NORDK RNAV STAR TO SLC RESULTS IN ROUTE DISCONTINUITY AND TRACK DEVIATION.

Narrative: RECEIVED A RWY CHANGE BTWN NORDK AND SETTT ON THE NORDK ONE ARR. THIS CAUSED A DISCONTINUITY. TRIED SELECTING DIRECT TO SETTT BUT WE MUST HAVE BEEN TOO CLOSE TO SETTT. ACFT STARTED TURNING TO WHAT I THOUGHT WAS BACK ON THE ARR; BUT WAS INSTEAD TRYING TO GO BACK TO SETTT. AFTER ABOUT 20-30 DEGS OF TURN; TOOK OVER MANUALLY TO TURN BACK TO COURSE. IN THE TURN BACK; ATC GAVE US A HDG AND QUERIED US ABOUT OUR HDG. STAYED ON VECTORS TILL FINAL APCH.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of May 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.