Flight crew deviates from assigned routing.

Attributes
ACN	314482
Time
Date	199508
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : psb
State Reference	PA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 25000 msl bound upper : 25000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zny
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 14000 flight time type : 4000
ASRS Report	314482
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : flight engineer pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 160 flight time total : 12000 flight time type : 2000
ASRS Report	314610
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
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:

After being cleared direct to the psb VOR, the first officer tuned his radio (navigation) to the incorrect frequency. As the PNF, I tuned my navigation radio to the next VOR fix on our planned route of flight. I failed to notice that the first officer had dialed in an incorrect frequency. Upon rollout to our new heading, ATC informed us that our heading was approximately 50 degrees to the left of course. We then executed an immediate turn towards the psb VOR and continued on without incident. No conflict was noted by ATC or TCASII with other traffic. In the future, I will make it a practice to always wait until the PF tunes and idents before changing my navigation receiver over to any new frequency.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLC DEVIATES FROM ASSIGNED ROUTING.

Narrative: AFTER BEING CLRED DIRECT TO THE PSB VOR, THE FO TUNED HIS RADIO (NAV) TO THE INCORRECT FREQ. AS THE PNF, I TUNED MY NAV RADIO TO THE NEXT VOR FIX ON OUR PLANNED RTE OF FLT. I FAILED TO NOTICE THAT THE FO HAD DIALED IN AN INCORRECT FREQ. UPON ROLLOUT TO OUR NEW HDG, ATC INFORMED US THAT OUR HDG WAS APPROX 50 DEGS TO THE L OF COURSE. WE THEN EXECUTED AN IMMEDIATE TURN TOWARDS THE PSB VOR AND CONTINUED ON WITHOUT INCIDENT. NO CONFLICT WAS NOTED BY ATC OR TCASII WITH OTHER TFC. IN THE FUTURE, I WILL MAKE IT A PRACTICE TO ALWAYS WAIT UNTIL THE PF TUNES AND IDENTS BEFORE CHANGING MY NAV RECEIVER OVER TO ANY NEW FREQ.

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.