ZLA controller and PA-28 pilot reported the aircraft deviated off course entering a higher MEA while...

Attributes
ACN	1529846
Time
Date	201803
Local Time Of Day	1201-1800
Place
Locale Reference	ZLA.ARTCC
State Reference	CA
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	PA-28 Cherokee/Archer/Dakota/Pillan/Warrior
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Cruise
Route In Use	Direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Enroute
Qualification	Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Person 2
Function	Pilot Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Multiengine Flight Crew Commercial
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 35 Flight Crew Total 2410 Flight Crew Type 123
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy Deviation - Track / Heading All Types Inflight Event / Encounter CFTT / CFIT

Narrative:

I was right side. The aircraft was at 9;000 ft on a good route for that altitude. I noticed just north of gfs the aircraft deviating slightly left of course so I inquired; he said he was indeed of course and would correct. I then noticed the aircraft turning further left as opposed to making a slight right turn to correct; I gave him the MEA of 9;900 in his area and climbed his to 10;000. Around this time L30 called me (they had track control) and I informed them of what was happening and requested a revised altitude of 10;000 direct las; they approved it. I then turned around and told the aircraft that he was cleared right turn direct las climbing to 10;000. I did ask the aircraft a minimum of 2 times if they had the terrain in sight; they did. I did turn him below the MEA when I issued that right turn direct las. I then issued the brasher warning.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ZLA controller and PA-28 pilot reported the aircraft deviated off course entering a higher MEA while programming the GPS. The Controller inadvertently turned aircraft below MEA.

Narrative: I was R side. The aircraft was at 9;000 Ft on a good route for that altitude. I noticed just north of GFS the aircraft deviating slightly left of course so I inquired; he said he was indeed of course and would correct. I then noticed the aircraft turning further left as opposed to making a slight right turn to correct; I gave him the MEA of 9;900 in his area and climbed his to 10;000. Around this time L30 called me (they had track control) and I informed them of what was happening and requested a revised altitude of 10;000 direct LAS; they approved it. I then turned around and told the aircraft that he was cleared right turn direct LAS climbing to 10;000. I did ask the aircraft a minimum of 2 times if they had the terrain in sight; they did. I did turn him below the MEA when I issued that right turn direct LAS. I then issued the brasher warning.

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.

ZLA controller and PA-28 pilot reported the aircraft deviated off course entering a higher MEA while programming the GPS. The controller inadvertently turned aircraft below MEA.