Air carrier X flight crew failed to comply with act clearance. Pilot deviation.

Attributes
ACN	149582
Time
Date	199006
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : dca
State Reference	DC
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2500 msl bound upper : 2500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : dca
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : visual
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 75 flight time total : 8500 flight time type : 4000
ASRS Report	149582
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	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:

Air carrier X was approaching dca. The mt vernon visibility approach was in use. Approximately 12 mi southeast of the dca VOR dca approach cleared us to fly a 320 degree heading and maintain 2500'. We flew through the final approach on this heading. When our aircraft was approximately 1 1/2 mi west of the final approach course the controller asked us if we were turning to 'intercept the river.' I replied that we were flying a 320 degree heading. The controller then issued us a right turn to intercept the final approach course and an approach clearance. The controller initially did not issue us a clearance to intercept the final approach, however from the tone of his voice I could tell that he thought he did. This controller was too busy to properly issue instructions, and too busy to monitor our flight on radar. Unfortunately this type of controller workload is far too common.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR X FLT CREW FAILED TO COMPLY WITH ACT CLRNC. PLT DEVIATION.

Narrative: ACR X WAS APCHING DCA. THE MT VERNON VIS APCH WAS IN USE. APPROX 12 MI SE OF THE DCA VOR DCA APCH CLRED US TO FLY A 320 DEG HDG AND MAINTAIN 2500'. WE FLEW THROUGH THE FINAL APCH ON THIS HDG. WHEN OUR ACFT WAS APPROX 1 1/2 MI W OF THE FINAL APCH COURSE THE CTLR ASKED US IF WE WERE TURNING TO 'INTERCEPT THE RIVER.' I REPLIED THAT WE WERE FLYING A 320 DEG HDG. THE CTLR THEN ISSUED US A RIGHT TURN TO INTERCEPT THE FINAL APCH COURSE AND AN APCH CLRNC. THE CTLR INITIALLY DID NOT ISSUE US A CLRNC TO INTERCEPT THE FINAL APCH, HOWEVER FROM THE TONE OF HIS VOICE I COULD TELL THAT HE THOUGHT HE DID. THIS CTLR WAS TOO BUSY TO PROPERLY ISSUE INSTRUCTIONS, AND TOO BUSY TO MONITOR OUR FLT ON RADAR. UNFORTUNATELY THIS TYPE OF CTLR WORKLOAD IS FAR TOO COMMON.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 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.