Heading track deviation in a non adherence to ATC procedure clearance.

Attributes
ACN	297934
Time
Date	199503
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : pdx
State Reference	OR
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3500 msl bound upper : 3500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : pdx
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : straight in approach : visual departure : noise abatement
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : flight engineer pilot : commercial pilot : atp pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 5300 flight time type : 815
ASRS Report	297934
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course flight crew : became reoriented other
Consequence	Other Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

We were being vectored for the visual approach into pdx. After we called seeing the airport pass mill east of pdx we were cleared for the mill visual approach to runway 28R, sidestep to runway 28L. (At this time we were about 8-10 east/southeast of portland on an assigned heading of 010 degrees). As the PNF I was busy tuning and identing radios and running checklists. When I looked up the captain appeared to be 'cutting the corner' on the visual approach. Just as I looked up portland approach asked us if we were making a straight-in visual to runway 28L. I said that we were on the mill visual to runway 28R, sidestep to runway 28L and the controller then informed us that he showed us about 3 mi off of the recommended ground track on the visual. The captain then proceeded to get back on course for the mill visual and the rest of the flight occurred uneventfully. After we blocked into the gate I discussed the incident with the captain. He said that he misunderstood the controller and thought that we were cleared for the straight-in visual to runway 28L. He was very tired and I should have monitored him better and this incident wouldn't have happened. Next time I'll try to either finish checklists and etc. Sooner or I'll more closely monitor the situation while I am running checklists.

Original NASA ASRS Text

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

Narrative: WE WERE BEING VECTORED FOR THE VISUAL APCH INTO PDX. AFTER WE CALLED SEEING THE ARPT PASS MILL E OF PDX WE WERE CLRED FOR THE MILL VISUAL APCH TO RWY 28R, SIDESTEP TO RWY 28L. (AT THIS TIME WE WERE ABOUT 8-10 E/SE OF PORTLAND ON AN ASSIGNED HDG OF 010 DEGS). AS THE PNF I WAS BUSY TUNING AND IDENTING RADIOS AND RUNNING CHKLISTS. WHEN I LOOKED UP THE CAPT APPEARED TO BE 'CUTTING THE CORNER' ON THE VISUAL APCH. JUST AS I LOOKED UP PORTLAND APCH ASKED US IF WE WERE MAKING A STRAIGHT-IN VISUAL TO RWY 28L. I SAID THAT WE WERE ON THE MILL VISUAL TO RWY 28R, SIDESTEP TO RWY 28L AND THE CTLR THEN INFORMED US THAT HE SHOWED US ABOUT 3 MI OFF OF THE RECOMMENDED GND TRACK ON THE VISUAL. THE CAPT THEN PROCEEDED TO GET BACK ON COURSE FOR THE MILL VISUAL AND THE REST OF THE FLT OCCURRED UNEVENTFULLY. AFTER WE BLOCKED INTO THE GATE I DISCUSSED THE INCIDENT WITH THE CAPT. HE SAID THAT HE MISUNDERSTOOD THE CTLR AND THOUGHT THAT WE WERE CLRED FOR THE STRAIGHT-IN VISUAL TO RWY 28L. HE WAS VERY TIRED AND I SHOULD HAVE MONITORED HIM BETTER AND THIS INCIDENT WOULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED. NEXT TIME I'LL TRY TO EITHER FINISH CHKLISTS AND ETC. SOONER OR I'LL MORE CLOSELY MONITOR THE SIT WHILE I AM RUNNING CHKLISTS.

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.