Navigation error caused by misset directional gyro.

Attributes
ACN	168464
Time
Date	199101
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : aml
State Reference	VA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3000 msl bound upper : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : iad
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 214 flight time total : 16674 flight time type : 130
ASRS Report	168464
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance non adherence other 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:

Controller advised me that my track was 40 degrees to the right of the headings he was giving me. He advised me to rechk my compass and dg. Sure enough, they were off. I corrected and continued to the destination west/O incident. The lesson learned here was a back to basics reminder. Every 15 mins or so, you must check dg against the compass. As an airline pilot flying jets, this task is accomplished automatically, so it's easy to forget. Once again, airline pilots must be careful when flying small aircraft's. Review the basics and be prepared to use them!

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: NAVIGATION ERROR CAUSED BY MISSET DIRECTIONAL GYRO.

Narrative: CTLR ADVISED ME THAT MY TRACK WAS 40 DEGS TO THE RIGHT OF THE HDGS HE WAS GIVING ME. HE ADVISED ME TO RECHK MY COMPASS AND DG. SURE ENOUGH, THEY WERE OFF. I CORRECTED AND CONTINUED TO THE DEST W/O INCIDENT. THE LESSON LEARNED HERE WAS A BACK TO BASICS REMINDER. EVERY 15 MINS OR SO, YOU MUST CHK DG AGAINST THE COMPASS. AS AN AIRLINE PLT FLYING JETS, THIS TASK IS ACCOMPLISHED AUTOMATICALLY, SO IT'S EASY TO FORGET. ONCE AGAIN, AIRLINE PLTS MUST BE CAREFUL WHEN FLYING SMA'S. REVIEW THE BASICS AND BE PREPARED TO USE THEM!

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.