B757-200 flight crew reported ATC alerted them to a track deviation that resulted when they loaded t...

Attributes
ACN	1343430
Time
Date	201603
Local Time Of Day	0001-0600
Place
Locale Reference	RFD.Airport
State Reference	IL
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	B757-200
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Climb
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Pilot Flying Captain
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 7 Flight Crew Total 13600 Flight Crew Type 9000
Person 2
Function	First Officer Pilot Not Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Events
Anomaly	Deviation - Procedural Clearance Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy Deviation - Track / Heading All Types

Narrative:

We were cleared for takeoff from runway 25 with a clearance to turn left direct bradford (bdf) and climb to 12;000 feet. At 400 feet AGL we selected direct bdf and LNAV. At approximately 3400 feet MSL the controller queried us about our heading. We informed the controller we were cleared direct bdf (by this point our heading was approximately 050 degrees (on course direct to bdf). The controller informed us that our heading should have been approximately 200 degrees (for direct bdf). We were at a loss as to why the FMC was showing us an eventual course of approximately 039 degrees and conveyed our concern to the controller. The controller then cleared us direct stl. It was during the execution of direct stl that we noticed the leg distance to bdf was showing greater than 3;000 miles!!! (We had inadvertently selected the wrong bdf when loading the flight plan). We finished executing direct stl and the rest of flight was uneventful. Prior to takeoff; we had received a brief 'insufficient fuel' message. We discussed the possible reasons for the message including winds and accuracy of points loaded in FMC. We checked for any irregularities and still missed the fact that the wrong bdf was loaded.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B757-200 flight crew reported ATC alerted them to a track deviation that resulted when they loaded the 'wrong' BDF in the FMC.

Narrative: We were cleared for takeoff from Runway 25 with a clearance to turn left direct Bradford (BDF) and climb to 12;000 feet. At 400 feet AGL we selected direct BDF and LNAV. At approximately 3400 feet MSL the Controller queried us about our heading. We informed the Controller we were cleared direct BDF (by this point our heading was approximately 050 degrees (on course direct to BDF). The Controller informed us that our heading should have been approximately 200 degrees (for direct BDF). We were at a loss as to why the FMC was showing us an eventual course of approximately 039 degrees and conveyed our concern to the Controller. The Controller then cleared us direct STL. It was during the execution of direct STL that we noticed the leg distance to BDF was showing greater than 3;000 miles!!! (We had inadvertently selected the wrong BDF when loading the flight plan). We finished executing direct STL and the rest of flight was uneventful. Prior to takeoff; we had received a brief 'insufficient fuel' message. We discussed the possible reasons for the message including winds and accuracy of points loaded in FMC. We checked for any irregularities and still missed the fact that the wrong BDF was loaded.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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.

B757-200 flight crew reported ATC alerted them to a track deviation that resulted when they loaded the 'wrong' bdf in the FMC.