Air carrier X non adherence to ATC clearance flew wrong heading.

Attributes
ACN	289695
Time
Date	199411
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : iad
State Reference	VA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 8000 msl bound upper : 8000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : iad
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 14000 flight time type : 8000
ASRS Report	289695
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance other
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Air carrier X while being issued delaying vectors for approach to dca (from the northwest) ATC had given us heading of 110 degrees. (This must have been the 5TH or 6TH vector received.) we acknowledged and flew it for approximately 2-3 mins. ATC then asked what heading were we flying? We responded '100 degrees,' having at that time adjusted slightly left to avoid a buildup remaining from WX system passage. ATC told us that they had given us a heading of 010 degrees and to now go left to 360 degrees. We complied but protested the previous heading given was not 010 degrees, but 110 degrees. FAA has the tapes, we don't. But if I hear 110 degrees and acknowledge it as such -- and so does first officer, it is then ATC's responsibility to listen for my proper acknowledgement and issue immediate corrections if necessary -- not to argue with me later. First officer and I absolutely 'heard' 110 degrees and therefore, flew it.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR X NON ADHERENCE TO ATC CLRNC FLEW WRONG HDG.

Narrative: ACR X WHILE BEING ISSUED DELAYING VECTORS FOR APCH TO DCA (FROM THE NW) ATC HAD GIVEN US HDG OF 110 DEGS. (THIS MUST HAVE BEEN THE 5TH OR 6TH VECTOR RECEIVED.) WE ACKNOWLEDGED AND FLEW IT FOR APPROX 2-3 MINS. ATC THEN ASKED WHAT HDG WERE WE FLYING? WE RESPONDED '100 DEGS,' HAVING AT THAT TIME ADJUSTED SLIGHTLY L TO AVOID A BUILDUP REMAINING FROM WX SYS PASSAGE. ATC TOLD US THAT THEY HAD GIVEN US A HDG OF 010 DEGS AND TO NOW GO L TO 360 DEGS. WE COMPLIED BUT PROTESTED THE PREVIOUS HDG GIVEN WAS NOT 010 DEGS, BUT 110 DEGS. FAA HAS THE TAPES, WE DON'T. BUT IF I HEAR 110 DEGS AND ACKNOWLEDGE IT AS SUCH -- AND SO DOES FO, IT IS THEN ATC'S RESPONSIBILITY TO LISTEN FOR MY PROPER ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND ISSUE IMMEDIATE CORRECTIONS IF NECESSARY -- NOT TO ARGUE WITH ME LATER. FO AND I ABSOLUTELY 'HEARD' 110 DEGS AND THEREFORE, FLEW IT.

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.