Narrative:

Prior to block-out, we received our pre-departure clearance on ACARS. The SID specified was the 'mountain 2 departure (vector),' mar/93. Since I had not been to ksea in quite some time, the day before, I looked at the seattle commercial charts and determined that a 'seattle 2 departure (vector),' mar/93, was most likely. While checking the pre-departure clearance, the captain and I were working a fueling discrepancy problem. Even though I physically read 'mountain 2,' I was mentally locked-in to a 'seattle 2.' the fueling discrepancy resolved, we blocked out on time and proceeded directly to the end of runway 16L for takeoff. As we were cleared onto the runway for takeoff, I briefed 'straight ahead to 9000 ft (our initial cleared altitude) for vectors,' still mentally locked-in to a 'seattle 2 departure.' after cleaning the airplane up at 1000 ft AGL, I advised the captain that I would maintain 210 KTS until we were turned eastbound. At approximately 8000 ft MSL, the departure controller asked if we had begun our turn yet. I believe the captain replied that we had not received a vector yet. At that point, the controller asked if we had not been cleared for a 'mountain 2 departure.' we quickly checked the pre-departure clearance and advised ATC that we had. He then gave us a 030 degree vector to join J-90 and climb to 17000 ft, I believe. Later during the climb out, the captain and I discussed the event. The 'mountain 2' requires a left turn to 070 degree heading after crossing the sea 158 degree/5 DME at or above 3000 ft MSL. The 'seattle 2' requires flying the 158 degree radial of sea for expected vectors. We were well above 3000 ft at 5 DME due to our 210 KIAS climb speed. While not specifically noting our DME when ATC asked if we'd begun our turn yet, I assume it was about 6-8 DME, as we were climbing quite rapidly anticipating either a level-off at 9000 ft of further clearance (vectors and/or altitude). Possible causes: 1) becoming mentally locked-in to a preconceived ATC clearance. 2) not truly reading and comprehending the actual clearance. 3) not briefing the departure clearance by name. 4) second leg (my first flying) of a 2- day, 2-LEG trip, following 1 month vacations for both pilots. 5) minor fueling distraction prior to departure while pre-departure clearance was received and reviewed.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: LGT FLIES WRONG SID FROM SEA.

Narrative: PRIOR TO BLOCK-OUT, WE RECEIVED OUR PRE-DEP CLRNC ON ACARS. THE SID SPECIFIED WAS THE 'MOUNTAIN 2 DEP (VECTOR),' MAR/93. SINCE I HAD NOT BEEN TO KSEA IN QUITE SOME TIME, THE DAY BEFORE, I LOOKED AT THE SEATTLE COMMERCIAL CHARTS AND DETERMINED THAT A 'SEATTLE 2 DEP (VECTOR),' MAR/93, WAS MOST LIKELY. WHILE CHKING THE PRE-DEP CLRNC, THE CAPT AND I WERE WORKING A FUELING DISCREPANCY PROB. EVEN THOUGH I PHYSICALLY READ 'MOUNTAIN 2,' I WAS MENTALLY LOCKED-IN TO A 'SEATTLE 2.' THE FUELING DISCREPANCY RESOLVED, WE BLOCKED OUT ON TIME AND PROCEEDED DIRECTLY TO THE END OF RWY 16L FOR TKOF. AS WE WERE CLRED ONTO THE RWY FOR TKOF, I BRIEFED 'STRAIGHT AHEAD TO 9000 FT (OUR INITIAL CLRED ALT) FOR VECTORS,' STILL MENTALLY LOCKED-IN TO A 'SEATTLE 2 DEP.' AFTER CLEANING THE AIRPLANE UP AT 1000 FT AGL, I ADVISED THE CAPT THAT I WOULD MAINTAIN 210 KTS UNTIL WE WERE TURNED EBOUND. AT APPROX 8000 FT MSL, THE DEP CTLR ASKED IF WE HAD BEGUN OUR TURN YET. I BELIEVE THE CAPT REPLIED THAT WE HAD NOT RECEIVED A VECTOR YET. AT THAT POINT, THE CTLR ASKED IF WE HAD NOT BEEN CLRED FOR A 'MOUNTAIN 2 DEP.' WE QUICKLY CHKED THE PRE-DEP CLRNC AND ADVISED ATC THAT WE HAD. HE THEN GAVE US A 030 DEG VECTOR TO JOIN J-90 AND CLB TO 17000 FT, I BELIEVE. LATER DURING THE CLBOUT, THE CAPT AND I DISCUSSED THE EVENT. THE 'MOUNTAIN 2' REQUIRES A L TURN TO 070 DEG HDG AFTER XING THE SEA 158 DEG/5 DME AT OR ABOVE 3000 FT MSL. THE 'SEATTLE 2' REQUIRES FLYING THE 158 DEG RADIAL OF SEA FOR EXPECTED VECTORS. WE WERE WELL ABOVE 3000 FT AT 5 DME DUE TO OUR 210 KIAS CLB SPD. WHILE NOT SPECIFICALLY NOTING OUR DME WHEN ATC ASKED IF WE'D BEGUN OUR TURN YET, I ASSUME IT WAS ABOUT 6-8 DME, AS WE WERE CLBING QUITE RAPIDLY ANTICIPATING EITHER A LEVEL-OFF AT 9000 FT OF FURTHER CLRNC (VECTORS AND/OR ALT). POSSIBLE CAUSES: 1) BECOMING MENTALLY LOCKED-IN TO A PRECONCEIVED ATC CLRNC. 2) NOT TRULY READING AND COMPREHENDING THE ACTUAL CLRNC. 3) NOT BRIEFING THE DEP CLRNC BY NAME. 4) SECOND LEG (MY FIRST FLYING) OF A 2- DAY, 2-LEG TRIP, FOLLOWING 1 MONTH VACATIONS FOR BOTH PLTS. 5) MINOR FUELING DISTR PRIOR TO DEP WHILE PRE-DEP CLRNC WAS RECEIVED AND REVIEWED.

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.