Narrative:

Due to a misunderstanding of the clearance on my part, a traffic conflict arose. The clearance was to follow a SID, the instructions of which where quite simple, fly runway heading for radar vectors on course. The clearance from the controller was to follow the SID to a radial/DME fix. For some reason I completely overlooked the SID instructions and turned directly to the radial/distance fix, which resulted in a traffic conflict. Reviewing the incident I have idented the factors contributing to its occurrence: 1) inadequate rest leading to a decreased state of alertness and mental clarity of the pilot. 2) unfamiliarity with the area and local controller practices, where I usually fly the controller usually states, 'fly runway heading' with the takeoff clearance even though it is stated in the SID. 3) lack of rest led to arriving late at the airport and inadequate preparation for the flight. 4) a talkative passenger disrupted my normal concentration, distracting me to the point of missing radio calls. The lessons learned are: take time to do everything right and get prepared for each flight. Exercise your authority/authorized and deal with distrs. If in doubt about a clearance, ask.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CPR DEP ON SID FAILED TO COMPLY WITH SID INSTRUCTIONS TO FLY RWY HDG FOR VECTOR TO COURSE. TURNED DIRECT TO FIX RESULTING IN TFC CONFLICT.

Narrative: DUE TO A MISUNDERSTANDING OF THE CLRNC ON MY PART, A TFC CONFLICT AROSE. THE CLRNC WAS TO FOLLOW A SID, THE INSTRUCTIONS OF WHICH WHERE QUITE SIMPLE, FLY RWY HDG FOR RADAR VECTORS ON COURSE. THE CLRNC FROM THE CTLR WAS TO FOLLOW THE SID TO A RADIAL/DME FIX. FOR SOME REASON I COMPLETELY OVERLOOKED THE SID INSTRUCTIONS AND TURNED DIRECTLY TO THE RADIAL/DISTANCE FIX, WHICH RESULTED IN A TFC CONFLICT. REVIEWING THE INCIDENT I HAVE IDENTED THE FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO ITS OCCURRENCE: 1) INADEQUATE REST LEADING TO A DECREASED STATE OF ALERTNESS AND MENTAL CLARITY OF THE PLT. 2) UNFAMILIARITY WITH THE AREA AND LCL CTLR PRACTICES, WHERE I USUALLY FLY THE CTLR USUALLY STATES, 'FLY RWY HDG' WITH THE TKOF CLRNC EVEN THOUGH IT IS STATED IN THE SID. 3) LACK OF REST LED TO ARRIVING LATE AT THE ARPT AND INADEQUATE PREPARATION FOR THE FLT. 4) A TALKATIVE PAX DISRUPTED MY NORMAL CONCENTRATION, DISTRACTING ME TO THE POINT OF MISSING RADIO CALLS. THE LESSONS LEARNED ARE: TAKE TIME TO DO EVERYTHING RIGHT AND GET PREPARED FOR EACH FLT. EXERCISE YOUR AUTH AND DEAL WITH DISTRS. IF IN DOUBT ABOUT A CLRNC, ASK.

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.