Widebody transport flight crew programs wrong VOR causing heading deviation.

Attributes
ACN	295649
Time
Date	199502
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : aml
State Reference	VA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 16000 msl bound upper : 16000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dawn
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
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 : 3700
ASRS Report	295649
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : atp pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course flight crew : became reoriented other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

We were assigned J149 out of armel VOR to rod, we were given a heading to intercept J149 which was the 281 degree radial off armel, we were flying on what I thought was the airway. Dulles approach asked us if we were on J149 - I said 'affirm.' turns out I programmed the LORAN incorrectly. Instead of using armel VOR, I inadvertently programmed the 281 degree radial off dca VOR. I was sitting right seat on this empty leg, as copilot, but I am the PIC 'captain,' and I did the programming of the LORAN. Factors contributing to this occurrence was pilot fatigue. We had a 13 1/2 hour duty day the previous day, followed by the required 10 hour rest. But our day began at am, with a departure out of sdf at am, followed by an as soon as possible back home. I received satisfactory rest and I slept well the night before, still we were both very tired. Usually, when one pilot programs the LORAN, he or she will review it once on their own, then another time with the other crewmember to make sure it is done correctly. For some reason, I did not do this. I was tired and ready to go home.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: WDB FLC PROGRAMS WRONG VOR CAUSING HDG DEV.

Narrative: WE WERE ASSIGNED J149 OUT OF ARMEL VOR TO ROD, WE WERE GIVEN A HDG TO INTERCEPT J149 WHICH WAS THE 281 DEG RADIAL OFF ARMEL, WE WERE FLYING ON WHAT I THOUGHT WAS THE AIRWAY. DULLES APCH ASKED US IF WE WERE ON J149 - I SAID 'AFFIRM.' TURNS OUT I PROGRAMMED THE LORAN INCORRECTLY. INSTEAD OF USING ARMEL VOR, I INADVERTENTLY PROGRAMMED THE 281 DEG RADIAL OFF DCA VOR. I WAS SITTING R SEAT ON THIS EMPTY LEG, AS COPLT, BUT I AM THE PIC 'CAPT,' AND I DID THE PROGRAMMING OF THE LORAN. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THIS OCCURRENCE WAS PLT FATIGUE. WE HAD A 13 1/2 HR DUTY DAY THE PREVIOUS DAY, FOLLOWED BY THE REQUIRED 10 HR REST. BUT OUR DAY BEGAN AT AM, WITH A DEP OUT OF SDF AT AM, FOLLOWED BY AN ASAP BACK HOME. I RECEIVED SATISFACTORY REST AND I SLEPT WELL THE NIGHT BEFORE, STILL WE WERE BOTH VERY TIRED. USUALLY, WHEN ONE PLT PROGRAMS THE LORAN, HE OR SHE WILL REVIEW IT ONCE ON THEIR OWN, THEN ANOTHER TIME WITH THE OTHER CREWMEMBER TO MAKE SURE IT IS DONE CORRECTLY. FOR SOME REASON, I DID NOT DO THIS. I WAS TIRED AND READY TO GO HOME.

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.