Flight crew uses wrong VOR radial heading deviation.

Attributes
ACN	159708
Time
Date	199010
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : stl
State Reference	MO
Altitude	msl bound lower : 35000 msl bound upper : 35000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zkc tower : dca
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : direct enroute airway : j101
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 210 flight time total : 28000 flight time type : 12000
ASRS Report	158708
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 210 flight time total : 2100 flight time type : 750
ASRS Report	158966
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Captain flying aircraft from rbs direct stl. Captain stated that the omega was not maintaining correct course. First officer was attempted a position update over stl VOR. During that process first officer incorrectly set outbnd course in VOR (229 degrees instead of 194 degrees for J101 from stl to lit). Captain then asked if that was the course outbnd referring to the course set in first officer VOR. First officer responded yes and completed omega update. The suspect omega was then believed to be giving incorrect course information. At some DME from stl ATC questioned our clearance and advised that we were 40 NM off course. ATC then cleared us direct to lit.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLT CREW USES WRONG VOR RADIAL HEADING DEVIATION.

Narrative: CAPT FLYING ACFT FROM RBS DIRECT STL. CAPT STATED THAT THE OMEGA WAS NOT MAINTAINING CORRECT COURSE. F/O WAS ATTEMPTED A POS UPDATE OVER STL VOR. DURING THAT PROCESS F/O INCORRECTLY SET OUTBND COURSE IN VOR (229 DEGS INSTEAD OF 194 DEGS FOR J101 FROM STL TO LIT). CAPT THEN ASKED IF THAT WAS THE COURSE OUTBND REFERRING TO THE COURSE SET IN F/O VOR. F/O RESPONDED YES AND COMPLETED OMEGA UPDATE. THE SUSPECT OMEGA WAS THEN BELIEVED TO BE GIVING INCORRECT COURSE INFO. AT SOME DME FROM STL ATC QUESTIONED OUR CLRNC AND ADVISED THAT WE WERE 40 NM OFF COURSE. ATC THEN CLRED US DIRECT TO LIT.

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.