Track deviation caused by improper orientation of the 'to - from' VOR indicator.

Attributes
ACN	307020
Time
Date	199506
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : mbs
State Reference	MI
Altitude	msl bound lower : 6000 msl bound upper : 6000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zmp
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : direct enroute airway : v297
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 6 flight time total : 400 flight time type : 40
ASRS Report	307020
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course other
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

While on an IFR planned flight which included a leg on victor 297 between mbs and pln, there was an inadvertent excursion to the west of the airway. The excursion occurred near the transition from flying from the mbs VOR to flying to the pln VOR. Near the transition point, the #2 navigation radio wa inadvertently tuned to the pln VOR with a 'from' indication. During the short period following, I attempted to navigation using the receiver as if it had been properly tuned with to the airway radial with a 'to' indication. I did detect the problem within several mins. At approximately the same time I was given a vector to re-intercept the airway radial by the center controller. Although I don't believe I did penetrate restr airspace, if the error had gone undetected, restr airspace to the west of the airway could have been violated. Upon re-intercepting the airway and properly tuning the navigation radio, the flight continued without incident. I feel the primary cause of the incident was my lack of recent IMC experience and the resulting tension.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: TRACK DEV CAUSED BY IMPROPER ORIENTATION OF THE 'TO - FROM' VOR INDICATOR.

Narrative: WHILE ON AN IFR PLANNED FLT WHICH INCLUDED A LEG ON VICTOR 297 BTWN MBS AND PLN, THERE WAS AN INADVERTENT EXCURSION TO THE W OF THE AIRWAY. THE EXCURSION OCCURRED NEAR THE TRANSITION FROM FLYING FROM THE MBS VOR TO FLYING TO THE PLN VOR. NEAR THE TRANSITION POINT, THE #2 NAV RADIO WA INADVERTENTLY TUNED TO THE PLN VOR WITH A 'FROM' INDICATION. DURING THE SHORT PERIOD FOLLOWING, I ATTEMPTED TO NAV USING THE RECEIVER AS IF IT HAD BEEN PROPERLY TUNED WITH TO THE AIRWAY RADIAL WITH A 'TO' INDICATION. I DID DETECT THE PROB WITHIN SEVERAL MINS. AT APPROX THE SAME TIME I WAS GIVEN A VECTOR TO RE-INTERCEPT THE AIRWAY RADIAL BY THE CTR CTLR. ALTHOUGH I DON'T BELIEVE I DID PENETRATE RESTR AIRSPACE, IF THE ERROR HAD GONE UNDETECTED, RESTR AIRSPACE TO THE W OF THE AIRWAY COULD HAVE BEEN VIOLATED. UPON RE-INTERCEPTING THE AIRWAY AND PROPERLY TUNING THE NAV RADIO, THE FLT CONTINUED WITHOUT INCIDENT. I FEEL THE PRIMARY CAUSE OF THE INCIDENT WAS MY LACK OF RECENT IMC EXPERIENCE AND THE RESULTING TENSION.

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.