Track heading deviation -- turned at wrong fix on STAR.

Attributes
ACN	320130
Time
Date	199511
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : prk
State Reference	NY
Altitude	msl bound lower : 18000 msl bound upper : 18000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zny tower : tus
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	arrival other arrival star : star
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 159 flight time total : 13500 flight time type : 7400
ASRS Report	320130
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : flight engineer pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 9000 flight time type : 1000
ASRS Report	320128
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance non adherence : published procedure other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Flight from atl to bdl. Clearance was after robbinsville direct to dpk for the dpk 2 arrival STAR at FL270. Autoplt in use, and coupled to omega. At top of descent, reverted to VOR/DME navigation. 60 NM from dpk given descent to 16000 ft MSL. Commenced descent at 40 NM from dpk and did descent checklist at FL180. Slowed to cross dpk at 250 KTS and FL180 as assigned. Went into commercial publication for approach plate to review approach. At dpk, turned left to intercept the 341 degree radial of dpk. STAR showed 250 KTS, and 341 degree radial at mad. Due to overload and lost situational awareness, I made the correct turn at the wrong VOR (dpk vice mad). ATC controller called while we were in the turn to the 341 degree radial and asked for our heading (approximately 330 degrees). He then told us to level at FL180 and turn to a heading of 90 degrees to intercept the dpk 053 degree radial to rejoin to dpk 2 STAR. We complied. Problems were pilot unfamiliarity with the STAR, compression of workload over dpk, due to checklists, turns, dscnts, speed reductions, and PNF being distracted from normal backup duties by attending to a passenger problem.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: TRACK HDG DEV -- TURNED AT WRONG FIX ON STAR.

Narrative: FLT FROM ATL TO BDL. CLRNC WAS AFTER ROBBINSVILLE DIRECT TO DPK FOR THE DPK 2 ARR STAR AT FL270. AUTOPLT IN USE, AND COUPLED TO OMEGA. AT TOP OF DSCNT, REVERTED TO VOR/DME NAV. 60 NM FROM DPK GIVEN DSCNT TO 16000 FT MSL. COMMENCED DSCNT AT 40 NM FROM DPK AND DID DSCNT CHKLIST AT FL180. SLOWED TO CROSS DPK AT 250 KTS AND FL180 AS ASSIGNED. WENT INTO COMMERCIAL PUB FOR APCH PLATE TO REVIEW APCH. AT DPK, TURNED L TO INTERCEPT THE 341 DEG RADIAL OF DPK. STAR SHOWED 250 KTS, AND 341 DEG RADIAL AT MAD. DUE TO OVERLOAD AND LOST SITUATIONAL AWARENESS, I MADE THE CORRECT TURN AT THE WRONG VOR (DPK VICE MAD). ATC CTLR CALLED WHILE WE WERE IN THE TURN TO THE 341 DEG RADIAL AND ASKED FOR OUR HDG (APPROX 330 DEGS). HE THEN TOLD US TO LEVEL AT FL180 AND TURN TO A HDG OF 90 DEGS TO INTERCEPT THE DPK 053 DEG RADIAL TO REJOIN TO DPK 2 STAR. WE COMPLIED. PROBS WERE PLT UNFAMILIARITY WITH THE STAR, COMPRESSION OF WORKLOAD OVER DPK, DUE TO CHKLISTS, TURNS, DSCNTS, SPD REDUCTIONS, AND PNF BEING DISTRACTED FROM NORMAL BACKUP DUTIES BY ATTENDING TO A PAX PROB.

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.