Narrative:

I (captain) was flying the dupont three arrival into phl with an fak transition. First officer out of the loop getting ATIS. (Should be available via ACARS to keep both cockpit crew members in the loop during increasingly complex arrival procedures. Vertical navigation was somewhat demanding with 3 separate crossing restrictions in a 35 NM space. (Ott at FL240, 10 northeast of ott at FL200, and jaybo at 15,000'). I was also involved with the radar scope trying to determine if we would clear several thunderstorm cells scattered along the STAR routing. Overhead the ott VOR I mistakenly and hurriedly set an outbound course of 095 degree in my csw and then went back to the vertical navigation situation and the tuning of the eno 226 degree radial in the #2 navigation radio. I tracked outbound on the ott 095 degree right for about 20 DME, too preoccupied with my vertical situation and the WX to notice my error. At this point ZDC issued a vector to the north with instructions to rejoin the arrival which I did. I figure we were less than 4 NM off course, but diverging. Yes, I screwed up, but in talking with my fellow pilots, I find that I am not alone. The dupont three is being referred to as the ASRS special. With 4 altitude crossing restrictions and 3 course changes utilizing 4 different navaids all in a distance of 79 mi (ott to terre) it is a real handful if WX, crew fatigue or any other unfavorable factors are present.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLT CREW OF MLG DEVIATED FROM COURSE PERFORMING THE DUPONT THREE ARR AT PHL. CTLR INTERVENED.

Narrative: I (CAPT) WAS FLYING THE DUPONT THREE ARR INTO PHL WITH AN FAK TRANSITION. F/O OUT OF THE LOOP GETTING ATIS. (SHOULD BE AVAILABLE VIA ACARS TO KEEP BOTH COCKPIT CREW MEMBERS IN THE LOOP DURING INCREASINGLY COMPLEX ARR PROCS. VERTICAL NAVIGATION WAS SOMEWHAT DEMANDING WITH 3 SEPARATE XING RESTRICTIONS IN A 35 NM SPACE. (OTT AT FL240, 10 NE OF OTT AT FL200, AND JAYBO AT 15,000'). I WAS ALSO INVOLVED WITH THE RADAR SCOPE TRYING TO DETERMINE IF WE WOULD CLEAR SEVERAL TSTM CELLS SCATTERED ALONG THE STAR ROUTING. OVERHEAD THE OTT VOR I MISTAKENLY AND HURRIEDLY SET AN OUTBOUND COURSE OF 095 DEG IN MY CSW AND THEN WENT BACK TO THE VERTICAL NAVIGATION SITUATION AND THE TUNING OF THE ENO 226 DEG RADIAL IN THE #2 NAVIGATION RADIO. I TRACKED OUTBOUND ON THE OTT 095 DEG R FOR ABOUT 20 DME, TOO PREOCCUPIED WITH MY VERTICAL SITUATION AND THE WX TO NOTICE MY ERROR. AT THIS POINT ZDC ISSUED A VECTOR TO THE NORTH WITH INSTRUCTIONS TO REJOIN THE ARR WHICH I DID. I FIGURE WE WERE LESS THAN 4 NM OFF COURSE, BUT DIVERGING. YES, I SCREWED UP, BUT IN TALKING WITH MY FELLOW PLTS, I FIND THAT I AM NOT ALONE. THE DUPONT THREE IS BEING REFERRED TO AS THE ASRS SPECIAL. WITH 4 ALT XING RESTRICTIONS AND 3 COURSE CHANGES UTILIZING 4 DIFFERENT NAVAIDS ALL IN A DISTANCE OF 79 MI (OTT TO TERRE) IT IS A REAL HANDFUL IF WX, CREW FATIGUE OR ANY OTHER UNFAVORABLE FACTORS ARE PRESENT.

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.