Narrative:

After takeoff, we flew heading 050 degrees assigned. Departure control cleared us direct azq VOR. I proceeded to enter the VOR NAVAID into the kns 660 RNAV computer. However, instead of the correct identify azq, I mistakenly entered azo. This caused a 30-40 degree deviation from the course. The frequency for azq VOR was not verified by use of navigation charts or morse code. Instead we used the frequency of the RNAV box and omitted to identify proper frequency by morse code. The red VOR flag was also not noticed. ZID questioned our course and gave us a new vector of heading 030 degrees to intercept the flm 150 degree radial. A conflict was not created. It is essential to identify and verify NAVAID frequencys by use of proper navigation charts and morse code. Failure to do so caused our deviation. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: this was the first trip together for these intrepid airmen, the second day of a 3 day trip. This incident happened after a 'high speed layover,' 6 hours of attempted rest. The kns 660 tunes vors that are selected by identify letters, but one must put in the right letters. The first officer admits that he put in a wrong letter, the captain did not notice, and neither attempted to identify by the morse code. They were 'only about 30 degrees off' in heading. ARTCC was not upset. The reporter has not heard about this from the FAA.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: TRACK DEV.

Narrative: AFTER TKOF, WE FLEW HDG 050 DEGS ASSIGNED. DEP CTL CLRED US DIRECT AZQ VOR. I PROCEEDED TO ENTER THE VOR NAVAID INTO THE KNS 660 RNAV COMPUTER. HOWEVER, INSTEAD OF THE CORRECT IDENT AZQ, I MISTAKENLY ENTERED AZO. THIS CAUSED A 30-40 DEG DEV FROM THE COURSE. THE FREQ FOR AZQ VOR WAS NOT VERIFIED BY USE OF NAV CHARTS OR MORSE CODE. INSTEAD WE USED THE FREQ OF THE RNAV BOX AND OMITTED TO IDENT PROPER FREQ BY MORSE CODE. THE RED VOR FLAG WAS ALSO NOT NOTICED. ZID QUESTIONED OUR COURSE AND GAVE US A NEW VECTOR OF HDG 030 DEGS TO INTERCEPT THE FLM 150 DEG RADIAL. A CONFLICT WAS NOT CREATED. IT IS ESSENTIAL TO IDENT AND VERIFY NAVAID FREQS BY USE OF PROPER NAV CHARTS AND MORSE CODE. FAILURE TO DO SO CAUSED OUR DEV. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THIS WAS THE FIRST TRIP TOGETHER FOR THESE INTREPID AIRMEN, THE SECOND DAY OF A 3 DAY TRIP. THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED AFTER A 'HIGH SPD LAYOVER,' 6 HRS OF ATTEMPTED REST. THE KNS 660 TUNES VORS THAT ARE SELECTED BY IDENT LETTERS, BUT ONE MUST PUT IN THE RIGHT LETTERS. THE FO ADMITS THAT HE PUT IN A WRONG LETTER, THE CAPT DID NOT NOTICE, AND NEITHER ATTEMPTED TO IDENT BY THE MORSE CODE. THEY WERE 'ONLY ABOUT 30 DEGS OFF' IN HDG. ARTCC WAS NOT UPSET. THE RPTR HAS NOT HEARD ABOUT THIS FROM THE FAA.

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.