Navigation error. - NASA ASRS

Attributes
ACN	291674
Time
Date	199412
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : dqo
State Reference	DE
Altitude	msl bound lower : 17000 msl bound upper : 17000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : n90 tower : elp
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 descent other
Route In Use	arrival star : star
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 210 flight time total : 12000 flight time type : 3500
ASRS Report	291674
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	flight crew : became reoriented flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course none taken : unable
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation other

Narrative:

While en route to lga on the NANCI5 STAR, ny TRACON issued a holding clearance at stefe intersection. After programming the FMC for the published hold, (inbound course 053 degrees, right turns 1 1/2 min legs) and entering the hold, ny TRACON questioned our hold when they observed us north of the holding pattern. At that time I selected manual VOR to verify with raw data. We were approximately 3-4 mi north of stefe. I verified the FMC stored latitude/long position with the charted latitude/long and they were the same. About that time, ny TRACON questioned several other airliner transports holding at stefe. We were issued a new hold at radial 233 degree/30 mi fix. After programming the FMC and entering the hold, raw data and the FMC were both in agreement. It seems that with several airplanes having a hard time holding at stefe that a common problem such as the wrong published latitude/long chart marker which would effect both the 'STAR' chart as well as the FMC database.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: NAV ERROR.

Narrative: WHILE ENRTE TO LGA ON THE NANCI5 STAR, NY TRACON ISSUED A HOLDING CLRNC AT STEFE INTXN. AFTER PROGRAMMING THE FMC FOR THE PUBLISHED HOLD, (INBOUND COURSE 053 DEGS, R TURNS 1 1/2 MIN LEGS) AND ENTERING THE HOLD, NY TRACON QUESTIONED OUR HOLD WHEN THEY OBSERVED US N OF THE HOLDING PATTERN. AT THAT TIME I SELECTED MANUAL VOR TO VERIFY WITH RAW DATA. WE WERE APPROX 3-4 MI N OF STEFE. I VERIFIED THE FMC STORED LAT/LONG POS WITH THE CHARTED LAT/LONG AND THEY WERE THE SAME. ABOUT THAT TIME, NY TRACON QUESTIONED SEVERAL OTHER AIRLINER TRANSPORTS HOLDING AT STEFE. WE WERE ISSUED A NEW HOLD AT RADIAL 233 DEG/30 MI FIX. AFTER PROGRAMMING THE FMC AND ENTERING THE HOLD, RAW DATA AND THE FMC WERE BOTH IN AGREEMENT. IT SEEMS THAT WITH SEVERAL AIRPLANES HAVING A HARD TIME HOLDING AT STEFE THAT A COMMON PROB SUCH AS THE WRONG PUBLISHED LAT/LONG CHART MARKER WHICH WOULD EFFECT BOTH THE 'STAR' CHART AS WELL AS THE FMC DATABASE.

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.