On overwater flight, flight crew of large transport flew wrong heading.

Attributes
ACN	116490
Time
Date	198907
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : sju
State Reference	PR
Altitude	msl bound lower : 31000 msl bound upper : 31000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : mjzs artcc : zid
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : atlantic enroute : other oceanic
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 120 flight time total : 10500 flight time type : 5000
ASRS Report	116490
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course flight crew : became reoriented
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Cleared adams, barbados direct for ua 312 ppr ur 888 modux R888 coy, etc. 30 NM south fof requested from piarco control present position direct ppr and was offered direct modux. Accepted this clearance as fuel for diversion destination was as required with no stored or extra fuel. Knowing a course of 335 degree (radial) from fof would make modux good the intention was to fly this track, however, the course actually put in course window and flown was 305 degree. The course from ppr to modux is 308 degree and may have contributed to entering and flying the wrong course from fof. Contacted sju center in range approaching sju boundary. Before radar identification by sju we became aware of the course error and started correcting back and advised sju we were south of course. Subsequent radar identification by sju confirmed the off course position.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ON OVERWATER FLT, FLT CREW OF LGT FLEW WRONG HEADING.

Narrative: CLRED ADAMS, BARBADOS DIRECT FOR UA 312 PPR UR 888 MODUX R888 COY, ETC. 30 NM S FOF REQUESTED FROM PIARCO CTL PRESENT POSITION DIRECT PPR AND WAS OFFERED DIRECT MODUX. ACCEPTED THIS CLRNC AS FUEL FOR DIVERSION DEST WAS AS REQUIRED WITH NO STORED OR EXTRA FUEL. KNOWING A COURSE OF 335 DEG (RADIAL) FROM FOF WOULD MAKE MODUX GOOD THE INTENTION WAS TO FLY THIS TRACK, HOWEVER, THE COURSE ACTUALLY PUT IN COURSE WINDOW AND FLOWN WAS 305 DEG. THE COURSE FROM PPR TO MODUX IS 308 DEG AND MAY HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO ENTERING AND FLYING THE WRONG COURSE FROM FOF. CONTACTED SJU CENTER IN RANGE APCHING SJU BOUNDARY. BEFORE RADAR IDENTIFICATION BY SJU WE BECAME AWARE OF THE COURSE ERROR AND STARTED CORRECTING BACK AND ADVISED SJU WE WERE S OF COURSE. SUBSEQUENT RADAR IDENTIFICATION BY SJU CONFIRMED THE OFF COURSE POSITION.

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.