Heading track deviation in a non adherence to ATC clearance.

Attributes
ACN	297897
Time
Date	199503
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : bdf
State Reference	IL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 31000 msl bound upper : 31000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zau
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 : direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : cfi pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 210 flight time total : 15000 flight time type : 2600
ASRS Report	297897
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 controllera
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Cruising on the airway following the 'canned' flight plan on autoplt, we asked for a direct clearance. We had temperature entered this point in the FMC to determine possible fuel savings. Direct was denied, and we thought we pressed 'erase,' in fact, we had pressed 'enter,' and with the sunlight bathing the FMC's, did not see the error: center later asked where we were going, and vectored us back on course. Obviously, we should have been more vigilant.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: HDG TRACK DEV IN A NON ADHERENCE TO ATC CLRNC.

Narrative: CRUISING ON THE AIRWAY FOLLOWING THE 'CANNED' FLT PLAN ON AUTOPLT, WE ASKED FOR A DIRECT CLRNC. WE HAD TEMP ENTERED THIS POINT IN THE FMC TO DETERMINE POSSIBLE FUEL SAVINGS. DIRECT WAS DENIED, AND WE THOUGHT WE PRESSED 'ERASE,' IN FACT, WE HAD PRESSED 'ENTER,' AND WITH THE SUNLIGHT BATHING THE FMC'S, DID NOT SEE THE ERROR: CTR LATER ASKED WHERE WE WERE GOING, AND VECTORED US BACK ON COURSE. OBVIOUSLY, WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN MORE VIGILANT.

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.