Navigation deviation during departure.

Attributes
ACN	315240
Time
Date	199508
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : alo
State Reference	IA
Altitude	agl bound lower : 2000 agl bound upper : 2000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : alo
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : cfi pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 20 flight time total : 1600 flight time type : 900
ASRS Report	315240
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	flight crew : became reoriented
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Flight from alo to fsd received departure clearance on ground with no initial heading after takeoff. (Usually issued when cleared for takeoff.) I took off runway 18 but didn't receive an initial heading. I climbed on runway heading and turned on course for fsd (about 280 degree). After a few minutes alo departure wanted to know who had authority/authorized me to turn from my assigned heading of 200 degrees. I replied that I hadn't received a heading assignment of 200 degrees. There was no traffic conflict that I know of. I believe I was the cause of the problem by not requesting an initial heading and by turning on course without a clearance to do so. I am normally very attentive to these details. I don't know what caused me to make such a blunder. I suspect that lack of sleep over the last several days had a lot to do with my inattn and not following proper procedures. I had been forgetting little things throughout the day. This forgetfulness apparently crept into the cockpit. The obvious way to prevent this in the future is to get a good night's rest before a flight. In addition, I need to ask about the initial heading before my takeoff roll if not received prior to that time.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: NAV DEV DURING DEP.

Narrative: FLT FROM ALO TO FSD RECEIVED DEP CLRNC ON GND WITH NO INITIAL HDG AFTER TKOF. (USUALLY ISSUED WHEN CLRED FOR TKOF.) I TOOK OFF RWY 18 BUT DIDN'T RECEIVE AN INITIAL HDG. I CLBED ON RWY HDG AND TURNED ON COURSE FOR FSD (ABOUT 280 DEG). AFTER A FEW MINUTES ALO DEP WANTED TO KNOW WHO HAD AUTH ME TO TURN FROM MY ASSIGNED HDG OF 200 DEGS. I REPLIED THAT I HADN'T RECEIVED A HDG ASSIGNMENT OF 200 DEGS. THERE WAS NO TFC CONFLICT THAT I KNOW OF. I BELIEVE I WAS THE CAUSE OF THE PROB BY NOT REQUESTING AN INITIAL HDG AND BY TURNING ON COURSE WITHOUT A CLRNC TO DO SO. I AM NORMALLY VERY ATTENTIVE TO THESE DETAILS. I DON'T KNOW WHAT CAUSED ME TO MAKE SUCH A BLUNDER. I SUSPECT THAT LACK OF SLEEP OVER THE LAST SEVERAL DAYS HAD A LOT TO DO WITH MY INATTN AND NOT FOLLOWING PROPER PROCS. I HAD BEEN FORGETTING LITTLE THINGS THROUGHOUT THE DAY. THIS FORGETFULNESS APPARENTLY CREPT INTO THE COCKPIT. THE OBVIOUS WAY TO PREVENT THIS IN THE FUTURE IS TO GET A GOOD NIGHT'S REST BEFORE A FLT. IN ADDITION, I NEED TO ASK ABOUT THE INITIAL HDG BEFORE MY TKOF ROLL IF NOT RECEIVED PRIOR TO THAT TIME.

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.