Narrative:

En route to atl from the north, I was given holding instructions from ZTL, to hold at macey intersection as published. After readback, quick check of arrival chart, I determined macey intersection was 56 NM north of atl VORTAC. I looked down at DME window and noticed it was at 60 NM, so I immediately slowed to holding airspeed and started holding turn at 56 NM. When copilot reported the entering of holding to ATC, they immediately replied that we were still about 70 NM north of holding fix (macey). At that time, both my copilot and I discovered my VOR was still tuned to sandhills, not atl VORTAC, and I was in fact entering holding in the wrong place! We immediately returned to course after having turned approximately 30 degrees and going no more than 1 to 2 degrees off course. Nothing further was said by ATC. This is another case of not paying attention to the basics, knowing what VOR your navigating on. After checking the mileage on chart and then on DME, I somehow assumed I was on a different VOR, and didn't check!! I simply violated all rules of IFR flight, i.e. Checking my navigation more thoroughly. The copilot's call entering holding actually prevented our getting way off course, as the controllers quick response and questioning helped me 're-cage' my brain!! I always brief the coplts to question, question, question, to watch the 'old man.' I will re-emphasize this and hopefully prevent this type of mistake in the future.

Related reports:

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MLG FLC USES WRONG NAVAID AND HOLDS AT WRONG POS.

Narrative: ENRTE TO ATL FROM THE N, I WAS GIVEN HOLDING INSTRUCTIONS FROM ZTL, TO HOLD AT MACEY INTXN AS PUBLISHED. AFTER READBACK, QUICK CHK OF ARR CHART, I DETERMINED MACEY INTXN WAS 56 NM N OF ATL VORTAC. I LOOKED DOWN AT DME WINDOW AND NOTICED IT WAS AT 60 NM, SO I IMMEDIATELY SLOWED TO HOLDING AIRSPD AND STARTED HOLDING TURN AT 56 NM. WHEN COPLT RPTED THE ENTERING OF HOLDING TO ATC, THEY IMMEDIATELY REPLIED THAT WE WERE STILL ABOUT 70 NM N OF HOLDING FIX (MACEY). AT THAT TIME, BOTH MY COPLT AND I DISCOVERED MY VOR WAS STILL TUNED TO SANDHILLS, NOT ATL VORTAC, AND I WAS IN FACT ENTERING HOLDING IN THE WRONG PLACE! WE IMMEDIATELY RETURNED TO COURSE AFTER HAVING TURNED APPROX 30 DEGS AND GOING NO MORE THAN 1 TO 2 DEGS OFF COURSE. NOTHING FURTHER WAS SAID BY ATC. THIS IS ANOTHER CASE OF NOT PAYING ATTN TO THE BASICS, KNOWING WHAT VOR YOUR NAVING ON. AFTER CHKING THE MILEAGE ON CHART AND THEN ON DME, I SOMEHOW ASSUMED I WAS ON A DIFFERENT VOR, AND DIDN'T CHK!! I SIMPLY VIOLATED ALL RULES OF IFR FLT, I.E. CHKING MY NAV MORE THOROUGHLY. THE COPLT'S CALL ENTERING HOLDING ACTUALLY PREVENTED OUR GETTING WAY OFF COURSE, AS THE CTLRS QUICK RESPONSE AND QUESTIONING HELPED ME 'RE-CAGE' MY BRAIN!! I ALWAYS BRIEF THE COPLTS TO QUESTION, QUESTION, QUESTION, TO WATCH THE 'OLD MAN.' I WILL RE-EMPHASIZE THIS AND HOPEFULLY PREVENT THIS TYPE OF MISTAKE IN THE FUTURE.

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.