Approach controller advised flight crew they were 5 miles off course.

Attributes
ACN	130956
Time
Date	198912
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : mia
State Reference	FL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1600 msl bound upper : 1600
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : mia
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	descent : approach descent other
Route In Use	arrival other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : atp pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 6000 flight time type : 600
ASRS Report	130956
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : published procedure non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	flight crew : became reoriented
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was flying the collier arrival into mia and descending for the crossing fix at phenx. The outbnd radial from collier county is 109 degree, which is marked in heavy, large print. The inbound radial to biscayne bay is not marked at the changeover point (phenx). I incorrectly flew inbound on the 283 radial, instead of the 293 (which is marked in small print at biscayne bay). My mind played a trick on me when I looked at the inbound radial and I dialed in 103 instead of 113 on my HSI's course selection window. My captain did the same thing which resulted in approach controller calling us and telling us we were 5 mi off course. This problem, in such critical airspace as an arrival corridor, could be helped by making the inbound radial (or the reciprocal) in heavy, large print when there is a course change mid leg.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: APCH CTLR ADVISED FLT CREW THEY WERE 5 MILES OFF COURSE.

Narrative: I WAS FLYING THE COLLIER ARR INTO MIA AND DESCENDING FOR THE XING FIX AT PHENX. THE OUTBND RADIAL FROM COLLIER COUNTY IS 109 DEG, WHICH IS MARKED IN HEAVY, LARGE PRINT. THE INBND RADIAL TO BISCAYNE BAY IS NOT MARKED AT THE CHANGEOVER POINT (PHENX). I INCORRECTLY FLEW INBND ON THE 283 RADIAL, INSTEAD OF THE 293 (WHICH IS MARKED IN SMALL PRINT AT BISCAYNE BAY). MY MIND PLAYED A TRICK ON ME WHEN I LOOKED AT THE INBND RADIAL AND I DIALED IN 103 INSTEAD OF 113 ON MY HSI'S COURSE SELECTION WINDOW. MY CAPT DID THE SAME THING WHICH RESULTED IN APCH CTLR CALLING US AND TELLING US WE WERE 5 MI OFF COURSE. THIS PROBLEM, IN SUCH CRITICAL AIRSPACE AS AN ARR CORRIDOR, COULD BE HELPED BY MAKING THE INBND RADIAL (OR THE RECIPROCAL) IN HEAVY, LARGE PRINT WHEN THERE IS A COURSE CHANGE MID LEG.

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.