Heading track deviation by private pilot. Pilot technique navigation questionable.

Attributes
ACN	297912
Time
Date	199503
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : fay
State Reference	NC
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3000 msl bound upper : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : fay
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 20 flight time total : 300 flight time type : 150
ASRS Report	297912
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : departure
Qualification	controller : radar
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 other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Was cleared from fay to 3n8 via V54. While setting up the radios on the ground I incorrectly set VOR 1 to the reciprocal course (091) instead of 271. I departed runway 04 at fay ano, when cleared by departure to intercept V54 (wbound), I looked at navigation 1 and intercepted it eastbound instead. The controller went ahead and cleared me to fay, thinking I was going to pick up V54 at the VOR. I continued past the VOR eastbound until queried by the controller. That's when I realized the course was set wrong, so I reversed and got back on V54 wbound. I didn't picture the flight path when I set up the radio initially, which is what I normally do (ie, I was expecting to fly generally wbound, so the 091 degree radial should have stuck out as being wrong). Better planning on the ground would have prevented this.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: HDG TRACK DEV BY PVT PLT. PLT TECHNIQUE NAV QUESTIONABLE.

Narrative: WAS CLRED FROM FAY TO 3N8 VIA V54. WHILE SETTING UP THE RADIOS ON THE GND I INCORRECTLY SET VOR 1 TO THE RECIPROCAL COURSE (091) INSTEAD OF 271. I DEPARTED RWY 04 AT FAY ANO, WHEN CLRED BY DEP TO INTERCEPT V54 (WBOUND), I LOOKED AT NAV 1 AND INTERCEPTED IT EBOUND INSTEAD. THE CTLR WENT AHEAD AND CLRED ME TO FAY, THINKING I WAS GOING TO PICK UP V54 AT THE VOR. I CONTINUED PAST THE VOR EBOUND UNTIL QUERIED BY THE CTLR. THAT'S WHEN I REALIZED THE COURSE WAS SET WRONG, SO I REVERSED AND GOT BACK ON V54 WBOUND. I DIDN'T PICTURE THE FLT PATH WHEN I SET UP THE RADIO INITIALLY, WHICH IS WHAT I NORMALLY DO (IE, I WAS EXPECTING TO FLY GENERALLY WBOUND, SO THE 091 DEG RADIAL SHOULD HAVE STUCK OUT AS BEING WRONG). BETTER PLANNING ON THE GND WOULD HAVE PREVENTED THIS.

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.