Narrative:

Departure control had us on a 335 degree heading to parallel the 335 degree radial of den VORTAC. After handoff to ZDV, cleared to FL230. At approximately FL190 we received a clearance of direct to laramie and climb to FL310. Captain started a left turn to go direct lar. At approximately FL200 center said 'confirm cleared direct lar at FL210.' response was, roger, direct lar at FL210. Center then said turn right 15 degrees. Apparently portions of the radio xmissions were blocked or interrupted as we did not receive all of the clrncs, due to congestion on the frequency. So did not hear these portions of the radio xmissions, as he was occupied with talking to cabin crew on the interphone regarding the cabin temperature. Contributing factors to this situation were the difficulty in understanding the ATC controllers due to varied volume and backgnd noises on the radios and congestion on the frequency. Supplemental information from acn 238722: ZDV asked us to confirm that we were cleared direct laramie upon passing FL210. We responded, 'ok, cleared direct laramie above FL210.' the confusion in clrncs resulted from 2 sources. The radio volume needed adjustment each frequency change, and the ZDV frequency was congested. It is possible that part of ATC's transmission was blocked out. When we finally received the proper clearance, direct laramie above FL210, ZDV may have interpreted our response incorrectly. We were acknowledging that clearance, but not reaffirming a previous clearance. Supplemental information from acn 239573: apparent aircraft separation was lost.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: LGT TURNED TO NEW ASSIGNED HDG TOO SOON CAUSING LTSS.

Narrative: DEP CTL HAD US ON A 335 DEG HDG TO PARALLEL THE 335 DEG RADIAL OF DEN VORTAC. AFTER HDOF TO ZDV, CLRED TO FL230. AT APPROX FL190 WE RECEIVED A CLRNC OF DIRECT TO LARAMIE AND CLB TO FL310. CAPT STARTED A L TURN TO GO DIRECT LAR. AT APPROX FL200 CTR SAID 'CONFIRM CLRED DIRECT LAR AT FL210.' RESPONSE WAS, ROGER, DIRECT LAR AT FL210. CTR THEN SAID TURN R 15 DEGS. APPARENTLY PORTIONS OF THE RADIO XMISSIONS WERE BLOCKED OR INTERRUPTED AS WE DID NOT RECEIVE ALL OF THE CLRNCS, DUE TO CONGESTION ON THE FREQ. SO DID NOT HEAR THESE PORTIONS OF THE RADIO XMISSIONS, AS HE WAS OCCUPIED WITH TALKING TO CABIN CREW ON THE INTERPHONE REGARDING THE CABIN TEMP. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS TO THIS SIT WERE THE DIFFICULTY IN UNDERSTANDING THE ATC CTLRS DUE TO VARIED VOLUME AND BACKGND NOISES ON THE RADIOS AND CONGESTION ON THE FREQ. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 238722: ZDV ASKED US TO CONFIRM THAT WE WERE CLRED DIRECT LARAMIE UPON PASSING FL210. WE RESPONDED, 'OK, CLRED DIRECT LARAMIE ABOVE FL210.' THE CONFUSION IN CLRNCS RESULTED FROM 2 SOURCES. THE RADIO VOLUME NEEDED ADJUSTMENT EACH FREQ CHANGE, AND THE ZDV FREQ WAS CONGESTED. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT PART OF ATC'S XMISSION WAS BLOCKED OUT. WHEN WE FINALLY RECEIVED THE PROPER CLRNC, DIRECT LARAMIE ABOVE FL210, ZDV MAY HAVE INTERPRETED OUR RESPONSE INCORRECTLY. WE WERE ACKNOWLEDGING THAT CLRNC, BUT NOT REAFFIRMING A PREVIOUS CLRNC. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 239573: APPARENT ACFT SEPARATION WAS LOST.

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.