Heading track deviation in clearance interpretation problem.

Attributes
ACN	180248
Time
Date	199105
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : teb
State Reference	NJ
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3000 msl bound upper : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : n90
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Light Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turboprop Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 90 flight time total : 8055 flight time type : 20
ASRS Report	180248
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

We were cleared a left turn to 090 degrees heading at 3000' to intercept the VOR-a course to teb. I called course coming alive on the pilot's HSI. As there were numerous distrs caused by ATC traffic calls, the PF (PIC) missed the intercept instructions and thought we were to maintain the 090 degree heading. He asked me to confirm the intercept. I mistakenly asked if we were cleared for the approach and not cleared to intercept, and the controller curtly responded no. So the PIC maintained heading, overshooting the course by a nominal but perceivable amount. The controller gave us a new heading to intercept again.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: HEADING TRACK DEVIATION IN CLRNC INTERP PROBLEM.

Narrative: WE WERE CLRED A LEFT TURN TO 090 DEGS HDG AT 3000' TO INTERCEPT THE VOR-A COURSE TO TEB. I CALLED COURSE COMING ALIVE ON THE PLT'S HSI. AS THERE WERE NUMEROUS DISTRS CAUSED BY ATC TFC CALLS, THE PF (PIC) MISSED THE INTERCEPT INSTRUCTIONS AND THOUGHT WE WERE TO MAINTAIN THE 090 DEG HDG. HE ASKED ME TO CONFIRM THE INTERCEPT. I MISTAKENLY ASKED IF WE WERE CLRED FOR THE APCH AND NOT CLRED TO INTERCEPT, AND THE CTLR CURTLY RESPONDED NO. SO THE PIC MAINTAINED HDG, OVERSHOOTING THE COURSE BY A NOMINAL BUT PERCEIVABLE AMOUNT. THE CTLR GAVE US A NEW HDG TO INTERCEPT AGAIN.

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.