Narrative:

Taxiing out for departure from mhk, I received our IFR clearance from the non federal tower located at mhk. The clearance that I copied down was, 'ATC clears...from manhattan to mci via V508, topeka, V508 estre intersection. Climb and maintain 9000'.' we both noted that this was not the usual clearance that we received for this flight, nor was the route we were filed. We were filed, 'direct topeka VOR, V508 estre intersection.' captain referred to her en route chart to verify to routing, and told me, 'it is the 075 degree right off of salina VOR to intercept the 258 degree right off of topeka VOR.' the way that the en route chart is folded, she missed the fact that V4-508 comes off of salina VOR 075 degree right. The V508 turns north for 8 mi at chari intersection. V508 then continued off of mhk VOR as the 069 degree right. From chari intersection the arwy becomes V4 only to topeka, not V4508. After takeoff, I climbed to 9000' and was flying to intercept what I thought was V508. We had just leveled of at 9000' and were approximately 20 mi east of mhk when ZKC said, 'it looks like you're intercepting V4 instead of V508.' we quickly consulted our en route chart and then realized what had happened. ZKC then cleared us, 'direct to topeka VOR, V508 estre intersection.' the flight continued west/O further incident. The way that V4-508 is designed it is easy to miss the fact that it splits off at chari intersection, then goes 8 mi north to the mhk VOR and does not continue direct to topeka. The normal folds of the en route chart also contributed to this problem. Air carrier does not issue en route charts or approach plates to first officer's. I did not see the chart; I was flying the course set by the captain.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MISREAD NAVIGATION CHART AND INTERCEPTED THE WRONG AIRWAY.

Narrative: TAXIING OUT FOR DEP FROM MHK, I RECEIVED OUR IFR CLRNC FROM THE NON FEDERAL TWR LOCATED AT MHK. THE CLRNC THAT I COPIED DOWN WAS, 'ATC CLRS...FROM MANHATTAN TO MCI VIA V508, TOPEKA, V508 ESTRE INTXN. CLB AND MAINTAIN 9000'.' WE BOTH NOTED THAT THIS WAS NOT THE USUAL CLRNC THAT WE RECEIVED FOR THIS FLT, NOR WAS THE RTE WE WERE FILED. WE WERE FILED, 'DIRECT TOPEKA VOR, V508 ESTRE INTXN.' CAPT REFERRED TO HER ENRTE CHART TO VERIFY TO RTING, AND TOLD ME, 'IT IS THE 075 DEG R OFF OF SALINA VOR TO INTERCEPT THE 258 DEG R OFF OF TOPEKA VOR.' THE WAY THAT THE ENRTE CHART IS FOLDED, SHE MISSED THE FACT THAT V4-508 COMES OFF OF SALINA VOR 075 DEG R. THE V508 TURNS N FOR 8 MI AT CHARI INTXN. V508 THEN CONTINUED OFF OF MHK VOR AS THE 069 DEG R. FROM CHARI INTXN THE ARWY BECOMES V4 ONLY TO TOPEKA, NOT V4508. AFTER TKOF, I CLBED TO 9000' AND WAS FLYING TO INTERCEPT WHAT I THOUGHT WAS V508. WE HAD JUST LEVELED OF AT 9000' AND WERE APPROX 20 MI E OF MHK WHEN ZKC SAID, 'IT LOOKS LIKE YOU'RE INTERCEPTING V4 INSTEAD OF V508.' WE QUICKLY CONSULTED OUR ENRTE CHART AND THEN REALIZED WHAT HAD HAPPENED. ZKC THEN CLRED US, 'DIRECT TO TOPEKA VOR, V508 ESTRE INTXN.' THE FLT CONTINUED W/O FURTHER INCIDENT. THE WAY THAT V4-508 IS DESIGNED IT IS EASY TO MISS THE FACT THAT IT SPLITS OFF AT CHARI INTXN, THEN GOES 8 MI N TO THE MHK VOR AND DOES NOT CONTINUE DIRECT TO TOPEKA. THE NORMAL FOLDS OF THE ENRTE CHART ALSO CONTRIBUTED TO THIS PROB. ACR DOES NOT ISSUE ENRTE CHARTS OR APCH PLATES TO F/O'S. I DID NOT SEE THE CHART; I WAS FLYING THE COURSE SET BY THE CAPT.

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.