IFR C172 departure from osu reportedly received confused ATC instructions from cmh departure; which ...

Attributes
ACN	838663
Time
Date	200905
Local Time Of Day	0601-1200
Place
Locale Reference	OSU.Airport
State Reference	OH
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Cardinal 177/177RG
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Initial Climb
Route In Use	Vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Single Pilot Pilot Flying
Qualification	Air Traffic Control Developmental Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Commercial
Experience	Air Traffic Control Non Radar 1 Flight Crew Last 90 Days 7 Flight Crew Total 1045 Flight Crew Type 700
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types Deviation - Procedural Clearance Deviation - Track / Heading All Types

Narrative:

Filed osu direct ape V144 ldn ZZZ; and was cleared as filed. This flight plan was loaded in panel-mounted IFR GPS unit. Osu ATC issued right turn to 050 vector with takeoff clearance; runway 27L. In turn to 050; was switched to cmh departure in the climb and after established on the 050 was advised to 'proceed on course.' I acknowledged the clearance and turned southeast to re-intercept the previously cleared course (direct routing between osu and ape). As I intercepted the course line and began a turn back to the east-northeast direct ape; the controller queried my heading and asked if I needed assistance with a vector to ape. I advised my present heading and that I was proceeding direct to ape (as previously cleared). If the controller wanted me to fly direct to ape from present position; the appropriate clearance would have been 'cleared direct appleton' or 'proceed direct appleton' not 'cleared on course'. There was no other traffic in vicinity so there wasn't any hazard involved; but a potential exists for misunderstanding of the controller doesn't specify present position direct if that is what is intended.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: IFR C172 departure from OSU reportedly received confused ATC instructions from CMH Departure; which prompted a course correction from the Departure Controller.

Narrative: Filed OSU direct APE V144 LDN ZZZ; and was cleared as filed. This flight plan was loaded in panel-mounted IFR GPS unit. OSU ATC issued right turn to 050 vector with takeoff clearance; Runway 27L. In turn to 050; was switched to CMH Departure in the climb and after established on the 050 was advised to 'proceed on course.' I acknowledged the clearance and turned southeast to re-intercept the previously cleared course (direct routing between OSU and APE). As I intercepted the course line and began a turn back to the east-northeast direct APE; the controller queried my heading and asked if I needed assistance with a vector to APE. I advised my present heading and that I was proceeding direct to APE (as previously cleared). If the controller wanted me to fly direct to APE from present position; the appropriate clearance would have been 'cleared direct Appleton' or 'proceed direct Appleton' not 'cleared on course'. There was no other traffic in vicinity so there wasn't any hazard involved; but a potential exists for misunderstanding of the controller doesn't specify present position direct if that is what is intended.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.

IFR C172 departure from osu reportedly received confused ATC instructions from cmh departure; which prompted a course correction from the departure controller.