Air carrier flight crew climbing out on a SID turns wrong direction.

Attributes
ACN	130008
Time
Date	198911
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	0001 To 0600
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : ath
State Reference	FO
Altitude	msl bound lower : 4000 msl bound upper : 4000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dawn
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : ath
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Widebody Transport
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	climbout : initial
Route In Use	departure sid : sid
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 20000 flight time type : 3000
ASRS Report	130008
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : published procedure non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

We departed athens airport from runway 15L via SID tanagra 1 charlie. The first officer was flying and I was working the radios. While climbing out of 4000', the first officer turned right back to the athens VOR DME. Departure control called and informed us that we had turned the wrong way. I quickly glanced at the SID, and at first thought we were correct from the pictorial display--but after reviewing the written description, realized our mistake. I admitted our error and we were told to continue our right turn as there was no other traffic in the area. In reviewing our wrong turn, I must admit that the visibility layout on the SID lulled us into thinking all turns were to the right when departing from runway 15L. Next time, at an unfamiliar airport, I will make sure that we review and understand the written as well as the pictorial display of the SID.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR FLT CREW CLIMBING OUT ON A SID TURNS WRONG DIRECTION.

Narrative: WE DEPARTED ATHENS ARPT FROM RWY 15L VIA SID TANAGRA 1 CHARLIE. THE F/O WAS FLYING AND I WAS WORKING THE RADIOS. WHILE CLBING OUT OF 4000', THE F/O TURNED RIGHT BACK TO THE ATHENS VOR DME. DEP CTL CALLED AND INFORMED US THAT WE HAD TURNED THE WRONG WAY. I QUICKLY GLANCED AT THE SID, AND AT FIRST THOUGHT WE WERE CORRECT FROM THE PICTORIAL DISPLAY--BUT AFTER REVIEWING THE WRITTEN DESCRIPTION, REALIZED OUR MISTAKE. I ADMITTED OUR ERROR AND WE WERE TOLD TO CONTINUE OUR RIGHT TURN AS THERE WAS NO OTHER TFC IN THE AREA. IN REVIEWING OUR WRONG TURN, I MUST ADMIT THAT THE VIS LAYOUT ON THE SID LULLED US INTO THINKING ALL TURNS WERE TO THE RIGHT WHEN DEPARTING FROM RWY 15L. NEXT TIME, AT AN UNFAMILIAR ARPT, I WILL MAKE SURE THAT WE REVIEW AND UNDERSTAND THE WRITTEN AS WELL AS THE PICTORIAL DISPLAY OF THE SID.

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.