Track deviation. Clearance interpretation.

Attributes
ACN	315100
Time
Date	199509
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : mem
State Reference	TN
Altitude	msl bound lower : 6000 msl bound upper : 7000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : mem
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 other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 5000 flight time type : 2500
ASRS Report	315100
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 10000 flight time type : 4000
ASRS Report	315104
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation other

Narrative:

Filed for middy arrival to mem, bwg transition. We were given vectors off the arrival during descent for traffic, then were reclred direct middy to expect runway 36L. I do not believe we were cleared the arrival. We continued inbound, and at clark (mem 046/08) asked the controller what heading he wanted. His reply was 'confirm you were cleared the middy arrival.' we told him we thought our last clearance was direct middy, at which point he gave us a 160 degree heading. He was expecting us to fly the 175 degree heading shown on the arrival.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: TRACK DEV. CLRNC INTERP.

Narrative: FILED FOR MIDDY ARR TO MEM, BWG TRANSITION. WE WERE GIVEN VECTORS OFF THE ARR DURING DSCNT FOR TFC, THEN WERE RECLRED DIRECT MIDDY TO EXPECT RWY 36L. I DO NOT BELIEVE WE WERE CLRED THE ARR. WE CONTINUED INBOUND, AND AT CLARK (MEM 046/08) ASKED THE CTLR WHAT HDG HE WANTED. HIS REPLY WAS 'CONFIRM YOU WERE CLRED THE MIDDY ARR.' WE TOLD HIM WE THOUGHT OUR LAST CLRNC WAS DIRECT MIDDY, AT WHICH POINT HE GAVE US A 160 DEG HDG. HE WAS EXPECTING US TO FLY THE 175 DEG HDG SHOWN ON THE ARR.

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.