Possible track deviation.

Attributes
ACN	295430
Time
Date	199501
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : tvc
State Reference	MI
Altitude	agl bound lower : 500 agl bound upper : 500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zmp tower : tvc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Flight Phase	climbout : initial
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 250 flight time total : 1800 flight time type : 250
ASRS Report	295430
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Prior to takeoff, we received the following clearance: 'fly runway heading, cleared for takeoff, runway 36.' upon departure tvc tower asked us to contact ZMP (at about 400-500 ft AGL). At the time, I thought we were also cleared 'on course' : ie. To a approximately heading of 325 degrees. So I initiated a turn to that heading and contacted center. Upon further thought, I was not sure that I had actually been 'cleared on course,' so we queried ATC, they said that we were (cleared on course). I'm just not 100 percent sure that tvc tower had cleared us for 'on course.'

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: POSSIBLE TRACK DEV.

Narrative: PRIOR TO TKOF, WE RECEIVED THE FOLLOWING CLRNC: 'FLY RWY HDG, CLRED FOR TKOF, RWY 36.' UPON DEP TVC TWR ASKED US TO CONTACT ZMP (AT ABOUT 400-500 FT AGL). AT THE TIME, I THOUGHT WE WERE ALSO CLRED 'ON COURSE' : IE. TO A APPROX HDG OF 325 DEGS. SO I INITIATED A TURN TO THAT HDG AND CONTACTED CTR. UPON FURTHER THOUGHT, I WAS NOT SURE THAT I HAD ACTUALLY BEEN 'CLRED ON COURSE,' SO WE QUERIED ATC, THEY SAID THAT WE WERE (CLRED ON COURSE). I'M JUST NOT 100 PERCENT SURE THAT TVC TWR HAD CLRED US FOR 'ON COURSE.'

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.