A pilot was unable to locate an intersection while departing a foreign airport. The intersection was...

Attributes
ACN	322770
Time
Date	199511
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : mty airport : mmmy
State Reference	FO
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3000 msl bound upper : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : mty
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 50 flight time total : 1700 flight time type : 200
ASRS Report	322770
Person 2
Affiliation	government other
Function	controller : departure
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I had departed monterrey, mexico. I was advised to fly to an intersection and report that intersection. I was unable to locate the intersection on either VFR or IFR charts, or approach plates. The tower expressed concern about why I could not locate the intersection, then gave me a DME distance to report. I reported reaching the DME position and was switched over to next reporting frequency. Nothing further occurred. Later in the flight after continuing to review the charts, I realized the intersection was on the chart. The intersection was pronounced differently by the mexican ATC than I pronounce the word. The 'south' was pronounced with a 'Z' sound, so I did not understand the intersection. The only way I can see to avoid this is to learn spanish better or ask for spelling when unable to locate an intersection in mexico. It is often difficult to communicate more than simple instructions when in mexico. There is hesitation with both the mexican ATC (sometimes) to use complex english words, and myself, in replying in english, since my spanish is limited.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A PLT WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE AN INTXN WHILE DEPARTING A FOREIGN ARPT. THE INTXN WAS SPELLED DIFFERENT THAN THE PRONUNCIATION ANTICIPATED BY THE RPTR. CTLR ISSUED A NEW DME RPTING POINT.

Narrative: I HAD DEPARTED MONTERREY, MEXICO. I WAS ADVISED TO FLY TO AN INTXN AND RPT THAT INTXN. I WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE THE INTXN ON EITHER VFR OR IFR CHARTS, OR APCH PLATES. THE TWR EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT WHY I COULD NOT LOCATE THE INTXN, THEN GAVE ME A DME DISTANCE TO RPT. I RPTED REACHING THE DME POS AND WAS SWITCHED OVER TO NEXT RPTING FREQ. NOTHING FURTHER OCCURRED. LATER IN THE FLT AFTER CONTINUING TO REVIEW THE CHARTS, I REALIZED THE INTXN WAS ON THE CHART. THE INTXN WAS PRONOUNCED DIFFERENTLY BY THE MEXICAN ATC THAN I PRONOUNCE THE WORD. THE 'S' WAS PRONOUNCED WITH A 'Z' SOUND, SO I DID NOT UNDERSTAND THE INTXN. THE ONLY WAY I CAN SEE TO AVOID THIS IS TO LEARN SPANISH BETTER OR ASK FOR SPELLING WHEN UNABLE TO LOCATE AN INTXN IN MEXICO. IT IS OFTEN DIFFICULT TO COMMUNICATE MORE THAN SIMPLE INSTRUCTIONS WHEN IN MEXICO. THERE IS HESITATION WITH BOTH THE MEXICAN ATC (SOMETIMES) TO USE COMPLEX ENGLISH WORDS, AND MYSELF, IN REPLYING IN ENGLISH, SINCE MY SPANISH IS LIMITED.

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.

A pilot was unable to locate an intersection while departing a foreign airport. The intersection was spelled different than the pronunciation anticipated by the reporter. Controller issued a new DME reporting point.