Air carrier medium large transport track heading deviation.

Attributes
ACN	129255
Time
Date	198911
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : zun
State Reference	NM
Altitude	msl bound lower : 28000 msl bound upper : 28000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zab
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	arrival star : star enroute : direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 250 flight time total : 8000
ASRS Report	129255
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was on flight cle-phx. After coming back from the restroom, flight was cleared direct sacho intersection. With the captain at controls, he selected tonto intersection in the FMC. As I adjusted my headset, I was not sure what I heard, so I asked the captain. He said we were cleared direct tonto. I asked him twice. He said 'cleared direct tonto.' I asked the captain, 'are you sure it wasn't clear sacho, because that would have made more sense.' he said again, 'no, cleared direct tonto.' then 5 mins later center asked, 'are you going direct sacho?' I looked at the captain and said, 'you told me twice we were cleared direct tonto.' the captain then told center that he used the wrong finger. Center said, 'I guess I can't say I never did that before.' we then turned 10 degrees to the right. Proceeded direct sacho. Note the center said there was no conflict!

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR MLG TRACK HEADING DEVIATION.

Narrative: I WAS ON FLT CLE-PHX. AFTER COMING BACK FROM THE RESTROOM, FLT WAS CLRED DIRECT SACHO INTXN. WITH THE CAPT AT CTLS, HE SELECTED TONTO INTXN IN THE FMC. AS I ADJUSTED MY HEADSET, I WAS NOT SURE WHAT I HEARD, SO I ASKED THE CAPT. HE SAID WE WERE CLRED DIRECT TONTO. I ASKED HIM TWICE. HE SAID 'CLRED DIRECT TONTO.' I ASKED THE CAPT, 'ARE YOU SURE IT WASN'T CLR SACHO, BECAUSE THAT WOULD HAVE MADE MORE SENSE.' HE SAID AGAIN, 'NO, CLRED DIRECT TONTO.' THEN 5 MINS LATER CENTER ASKED, 'ARE YOU GOING DIRECT SACHO?' I LOOKED AT THE CAPT AND SAID, 'YOU TOLD ME TWICE WE WERE CLRED DIRECT TONTO.' THE CAPT THEN TOLD CENTER THAT HE USED THE WRONG FINGER. CENTER SAID, 'I GUESS I CAN'T SAY I NEVER DID THAT BEFORE.' WE THEN TURNED 10 DEGS TO THE RIGHT. PROCEEDED DIRECT SACHO. NOTE THE CENTER SAID THERE WAS NO CONFLICT!

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.