Deviation in heading on SID.

Attributes
ACN	109702
Time
Date	198904
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : lax
State Reference	NV
Altitude	agl bound lower : 15000 agl bound upper : 29000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zla tracon : las tower : dca
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	departure sid : sid enroute airway : zla enroute other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : atp pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 240 flight time total : 20000 flight time type : 5000
ASRS Report	109702
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : published procedure non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Departing las en route to ind flying the oveto '8' departure, dvc transition. After turning eastbound on a radar vector and climbing, we were cleared to intercept the las VOR 039 degree right and resume the dvc transition. The aircraft was coupled to the RNAV and after oveto turned direct to dvc. Initially the RNAV was programmed correctly, but sometime before coupling the autoplt to the RNAV the point between oveto and dvc was deleted. The ATC controller told us we turned 25 mi early, and that we should double-check the route program as being correct. We did and it was correct. I then asked if there was any problem and he said no problem and to proceed direct dvc. To prevent this, I suggest using all available navaids and not put blind faith in the magic box.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: DEVIATION IN HEADING ON SID.

Narrative: DEPARTING LAS ENRTE TO IND FLYING THE OVETO '8' DEP, DVC TRANSITION. AFTER TURNING EBND ON A RADAR VECTOR AND CLBING, WE WERE CLRED TO INTERCEPT THE LAS VOR 039 DEG R AND RESUME THE DVC TRANSITION. THE ACFT WAS COUPLED TO THE RNAV AND AFTER OVETO TURNED DIRECT TO DVC. INITIALLY THE RNAV WAS PROGRAMMED CORRECTLY, BUT SOMETIME BEFORE COUPLING THE AUTOPLT TO THE RNAV THE POINT BTWN OVETO AND DVC WAS DELETED. THE ATC CTLR TOLD US WE TURNED 25 MI EARLY, AND THAT WE SHOULD DOUBLE-CHK THE ROUTE PROGRAM AS BEING CORRECT. WE DID AND IT WAS CORRECT. I THEN ASKED IF THERE WAS ANY PROB AND HE SAID NO PROB AND TO PROCEED DIRECT DVC. TO PREVENT THIS, I SUGGEST USING ALL AVAILABLE NAVAIDS AND NOT PUT BLIND FAITH IN THE MAGIC BOX.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 2007 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.