Flight crew programmed FMC improperly and got a 'route incontinuity' warning.

Attributes
ACN	261070
Time
Date	199401
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : den
State Reference	CO
Altitude	msl bound lower : 13000 msl bound upper : 13000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : den
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	arrival other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 250 flight time total : 22000 flight time type : 8000
ASRS Report	261070
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 10000 flight time type : 2800
ASRS Report	261067
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Using FMC/VNAV for navigation, arrival on drako profile descent. Approach gave us a turn to join den 313 degree radial. We were told we were left of course, entering the departure corridor. We programmed FMC for runway 17L/right en route to den. Landing runway was given as runway 26L/right on ATIS. When we reprogrammed runway 26, den did not get put to active waypoint in FMC. Incorrect FMC programming was cause of deviation. Error was generated because FMC will not accept headings to turn without displaying route discontinuity. Recommend updates to software to correct.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLC PROGRAMMED FMC IMPROPERLY AND GOT A 'RTE INCONTINUITY' WARNING.

Narrative: USING FMC/VNAV FOR NAV, ARR ON DRAKO PROFILE DSCNT. APCH GAVE US A TURN TO JOIN DEN 313 DEG RADIAL. WE WERE TOLD WE WERE L OF COURSE, ENTERING THE DEP CORRIDOR. WE PROGRAMMED FMC FOR RWY 17L/R ENRTE TO DEN. LNDG RWY WAS GIVEN AS RWY 26L/R ON ATIS. WHEN WE REPROGRAMMED RWY 26, DEN DID NOT GET PUT TO ACTIVE WAYPOINT IN FMC. INCORRECT FMC PROGRAMMING WAS CAUSE OF DEV. ERROR WAS GENERATED BECAUSE FMC WILL NOT ACCEPT HDGS TO TURN WITHOUT DISPLAYING RTE DISCONTINUITY. RECOMMEND UPDATES TO SOFTWARE TO CORRECT.

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.