Gross navigation error results in track position deviation.

Attributes
ACN	228113
Time
Date	199212
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : zhu
State Reference	TX
Altitude	msl bound lower : 26000 msl bound upper : 26000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : other oceanic enroute airway : a766 enroute airway : ub753 enroute other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : instrument pilot : flight engineer pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 215 flight time total : 11200 flight time type : 2760
ASRS Report	228113
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter other non adherence : clearance non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	faa : investigated faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation
Situations
ATC Facility	other physical facility

Narrative:

Uneventful scheduled flight of air carrier X flown iah to mid (merida, mx) AM53 to AM54 CST at FL330, except winds higher than forecast, 250/78. Departing merida at PM30, merida control held us to FL260 due to higher traffic at FL280, FL310, FL350. Merida control gave an incorrect (north sector) contact houston frequency 133.65 to us and the 3 higher aircraft for ADIZ checks in at barrows. Utilized the FL350 aircraft to relay check-in for marta and barrows with houston center. Overcorrected for low altitude winds and was reported 36 mi west of track by ZHU, when on correct 132.4 frequency. Though no MEA on the gulf route published on chart, our air carrier uses FL270 on A-766 and FL280 ub 753, we found out later -- also when unable to contact ZHU, there is an arinc 130.7 frequency available. Overwater navigation error report filed by ZHU. Should have used only magnetic headings from flight (FL350) plan for return leg or reduced wind correction at actual cruise altitude of FL260. Knowing our air carrier had established MEA's of 270/280 for route and that, at our time of departure, only 260 was available -- I would not have departed until a higher altitude was available. To conduct flight at such a low altitude led to a communication and navigation problem from distant vors to establish correct wind information and required position reports.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: GROSS NAV ERROR RESULTS IN TRACK POS DEV.

Narrative: UNEVENTFUL SCHEDULED FLT OF ACR X FLOWN IAH TO MID (MERIDA, MX) AM53 TO AM54 CST AT FL330, EXCEPT WINDS HIGHER THAN FORECAST, 250/78. DEPARTING MERIDA AT PM30, MERIDA CTL HELD US TO FL260 DUE TO HIGHER TFC AT FL280, FL310, FL350. MERIDA CTL GAVE AN INCORRECT (N SECTOR) CONTACT HOUSTON FREQ 133.65 TO US AND THE 3 HIGHER ACFT FOR ADIZ CHKS IN AT BARROWS. UTILIZED THE FL350 ACFT TO RELAY CHK-IN FOR MARTA AND BARROWS WITH HOUSTON CTR. OVERCORRECTED FOR LOW ALT WINDS AND WAS RPTED 36 MI W OF TRACK BY ZHU, WHEN ON CORRECT 132.4 FREQ. THOUGH NO MEA ON THE GULF RTE PUBLISHED ON CHART, OUR ACR USES FL270 ON A-766 AND FL280 UB 753, WE FOUND OUT LATER -- ALSO WHEN UNABLE TO CONTACT ZHU, THERE IS AN ARINC 130.7 FREQ AVAILABLE. OVERWATER NAV ERROR RPT FILED BY ZHU. SHOULD HAVE USED ONLY MAGNETIC HDGS FROM FLT (FL350) PLAN FOR RETURN LEG OR REDUCED WIND CORRECTION AT ACTUAL CRUISE ALT OF FL260. KNOWING OUR ACR HAD ESTABLISHED MEA'S OF 270/280 FOR RTE AND THAT, AT OUR TIME OF DEP, ONLY 260 WAS AVAILABLE -- I WOULD NOT HAVE DEPARTED UNTIL A HIGHER ALT WAS AVAILABLE. TO CONDUCT FLT AT SUCH A LOW ALT LED TO A COM AND NAV PROBLEM FROM DISTANT VORS TO ESTABLISH CORRECT WIND INFO AND REQUIRED POS RPTS.

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.