ZNY controller stated flight was off planned radial. Flight crew disputed allegation.

Attributes
ACN	159834
Time
Date	199010
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : htv
State Reference	NY
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute airway : zny
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 5500 flight time type : 3500
ASRS Report	159834
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : atp pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

On a scheduled flight form pvd-dca we were en route at altitude when center asked if we were proceeding direct hto VORTAC (hampton 113.6) or the mvy (114.5) 260 degree right to join J121 out of hto. We responded we were proceeding as filed along the mvy 260 degree right. Center said it appeared we were proceeding direct hto which would have put us in conflict with other traffic. We showed ourselves slightly right of course, but not direct hto. It is important to note that the 2 courses are very close.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ZNY CTLR STATED FLT WAS OFF PLANNED RADIAL. FLT CREW DISPUTED ALLEGATION.

Narrative: ON A SCHEDULED FLT FORM PVD-DCA WE WERE ENRTE AT ALT WHEN CENTER ASKED IF WE WERE PROCEEDING DIRECT HTO VORTAC (HAMPTON 113.6) OR THE MVY (114.5) 260 DEG R TO JOIN J121 OUT OF HTO. WE RESPONDED WE WERE PROCEEDING AS FILED ALONG THE MVY 260 DEG R. CENTER SAID IT APPEARED WE WERE PROCEEDING DIRECT HTO WHICH WOULD HAVE PUT US IN CONFLICT WITH OTHER TFC. WE SHOWED OURSELVES SLIGHTLY RIGHT OF COURSE, BUT NOT DIRECT HTO. IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THE 2 COURSES ARE VERY CLOSE.

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.