Narrative:

11/91, as lead aircraft of the second division of a 13 plane air-to-ground strike mission, we deviated out of the turtle MOA to the north, approximately 10 NM at 19000 ft MSL. Having been cleared into the MOA by la center (285.6) and cleared to switch frequency, we proceeded at 19000 ft to what the crew believed was its rendezvous point (north 34 degree 35 ft 12 inches west 114 degree 52 ft 18 inches) but was in actuality the next point in the intended route of flight (INS steering selected to wrong point) point 'a' VR289 (north 34 degree 55 ft 18 inches west 115 degree 03 ft 54 inches). Group was to join up with the rest of the strike aircraft at the rendezvous point (inside the MOA), descend below the TCA and fly the VR289 to the target within the R2501. Once cleared to switch frequency by la center, we switched up safety-of-flight frequency (263.35) radio-1 and military controller (323.5) in radio-2 to get clearance into the R2501 for the strike. As we talked to military controller, la center made a couple of calls on 285.6 (that were heard by one of our wing men who had failed to switch to 263.35) that we, the lead, did not receive. Immediately after the lead crew discovered their deviation and began a turn to the south to return to the MOA, the crew heard la center's call on guard frequency. We then switched back to 285.6 and informed center that they had just discovered their deviation. After joining up with the rest of the strike aircraft at the rendezvous point, we checked out with la center and proceeded on it's mission without further incident. Upon landing, the air crew contacted la center and explained the reasons for it's deviation.

Related reports:

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MIL FLT CREW UNAUTH EXIT FROM MOA.

Narrative: 11/91, AS LEAD ACFT OF THE SECOND DIVISION OF A 13 PLANE AIR-TO-GND STRIKE MISSION, WE DEVIATED OUT OF THE TURTLE MOA TO THE N, APPROX 10 NM AT 19000 FT MSL. HAVING BEEN CLRED INTO THE MOA BY LA CENTER (285.6) AND CLRED TO SWITCH FREQ, WE PROCEEDED AT 19000 FT TO WHAT THE CREW BELIEVED WAS ITS RENDEZVOUS POINT (N 34 DEG 35 FT 12 INCHES W 114 DEG 52 FT 18 INCHES) BUT WAS IN ACTUALITY THE NEXT POINT IN THE INTENDED RTE OF FLT (INS STEERING SELECTED TO WRONG POINT) POINT 'A' VR289 (N 34 DEG 55 FT 18 INCHES W 115 DEG 03 FT 54 INCHES). GROUP WAS TO JOIN UP WITH THE REST OF THE STRIKE ACFT AT THE RENDEZVOUS POINT (INSIDE THE MOA), DSND BELOW THE TCA AND FLY THE VR289 TO THE TARGET WITHIN THE R2501. ONCE CLRED TO SWITCH FREQ BY LA CENTER, WE SWITCHED UP SAFETY-OF-FLT FREQ (263.35) RADIO-1 AND MIL CTLR (323.5) IN RADIO-2 TO GET CLRNC INTO THE R2501 FOR THE STRIKE. AS WE TALKED TO MIL CTLR, LA CENTER MADE A COUPLE OF CALLS ON 285.6 (THAT WERE HEARD BY ONE OF OUR WING MEN WHO HAD FAILED TO SWITCH TO 263.35) THAT WE, THE LEAD, DID NOT RECEIVE. IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE LEAD CREW DISCOVERED THEIR DEV AND BEGAN A TURN TO THE S TO RETURN TO THE MOA, THE CREW HEARD LA CENTER'S CALL ON GUARD FREQ. WE THEN SWITCHED BACK TO 285.6 AND INFORMED CENTER THAT THEY HAD JUST DISCOVERED THEIR DEV. AFTER JOINING UP WITH THE REST OF THE STRIKE ACFT AT THE RENDEZVOUS POINT, WE CHKED OUT WITH LA CENTER AND PROCEEDED ON IT'S MISSION WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. UPON LNDG, THE AIR CREW CONTACTED LA CENTER AND EXPLAINED THE REASONS FOR IT'S DEV.

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.