Narrative:

After takeoff to the north, we were on a vector to the east during our climb. The controller gave us a clearance to intercept, what I believe to be stated as, 'the opposite of the 235 degree radial' and a frequency change. I interpreted that to be intercept the 055 degree radial off a VOR in which we were northeast of and would require a turn to approximately 040 degrees. I thought this an unusual clearance and looked at the first officer. I read back to the controller what I thought I heard and the controller did not correct me. Still confused and wanting to verify, the frequency was congested, I had the PF initiate a turn to the left and I checked in with the other controller. After checking in, I asked the controller to verify the previous controller's clearance. She responded with a hard turn back to our previous 090 degree heading and called out a TA. At that time, I noted that we were about to intercept the 055 degree radial off a VOR southwest of our position (on the one navigation radio) and the CDI was alive for the 235 degree radial off a VOR northeast of our position (the other navigation radio). I now believe the original intention or clearance from the first controller was to have us intercept the 235 degree radial of the VOR northeast of our position and track inbound. This was part of a SID. The 055 degree radial off of the VOR southwest of our position is part of a STAR. Contributing factors: unfamiliarity with SID, frequency congestion, haste (we were late due to a mechanical), a weak radio and no correction to a readback from the first controller. Corrective actions for the future: do not initiate a clearance without verification, review approach SID.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: THE RPTR DID NOT HEAR THE CTLR INSTRUCTIONS. THE FREQ CONGESTION PROHIBITED GAINING CLARIFICATION. THE RPTR COMPLIED WITH WHAT HE THOUGHT HE HEARD ONLY TO FIND OUT HE TURNED IN THE WRONG DIRECTION.

Narrative: AFTER TKOF TO THE N, WE WERE ON A VECTOR TO THE E DURING OUR CLB. THE CTLR GAVE US A CLRNC TO INTERCEPT, WHAT I BELIEVE TO BE STATED AS, 'THE OPPOSITE OF THE 235 DEG RADIAL' AND A FREQ CHANGE. I INTERPRETED THAT TO BE INTERCEPT THE 055 DEG RADIAL OFF A VOR IN WHICH WE WERE NE OF AND WOULD REQUIRE A TURN TO APPROX 040 DEGS. I THOUGHT THIS AN UNUSUAL CLRNC AND LOOKED AT THE FO. I READ BACK TO THE CTLR WHAT I THOUGHT I HEARD AND THE CTLR DID NOT CORRECT ME. STILL CONFUSED AND WANTING TO VERIFY, THE FREQ WAS CONGESTED, I HAD THE PF INITIATE A TURN TO THE L AND I CHKED IN WITH THE OTHER CTLR. AFTER CHKING IN, I ASKED THE CTLR TO VERIFY THE PREVIOUS CTLR'S CLRNC. SHE RESPONDED WITH A HARD TURN BACK TO OUR PREVIOUS 090 DEG HDG AND CALLED OUT A TA. AT THAT TIME, I NOTED THAT WE WERE ABOUT TO INTERCEPT THE 055 DEG RADIAL OFF A VOR SW OF OUR POS (ON THE ONE NAV RADIO) AND THE CDI WAS ALIVE FOR THE 235 DEG RADIAL OFF A VOR NE OF OUR POS (THE OTHER NAV RADIO). I NOW BELIEVE THE ORIGINAL INTENTION OR CLRNC FROM THE FIRST CTLR WAS TO HAVE US INTERCEPT THE 235 DEG RADIAL OF THE VOR NE OF OUR POS AND TRACK INBOUND. THIS WAS PART OF A SID. THE 055 DEG RADIAL OFF OF THE VOR SW OF OUR POS IS PART OF A STAR. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS: UNFAMILIARITY WITH SID, FREQ CONGESTION, HASTE (WE WERE LATE DUE TO A MECHANICAL), A WEAK RADIO AND NO CORRECTION TO A READBACK FROM THE FIRST CTLR. CORRECTIVE ACTIONS FOR THE FUTURE: DO NOT INITIATE A CLRNC WITHOUT VERIFICATION, REVIEW APCH SID.

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.