Narrative:

After departing runway 36 at dca, I proceeded left of course, not following the river departure due to a mistake on my part. I did this to avoid wake turbulence from a preceding B757. Contributing factors were being rushed with an aircraft on approach to runway 36 on 2 mi final and aircraft going through intersecting runways landing. Also, I had been out sick for the last 5 and a half months. Also, our initial clearance was to turn right to 090 degree heading after takeoff. We checked with the tower and received the revised clearance.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: DEPARTING FROM CLE, THE MAIN CABIN DOOR OPENS ON A BEECH 1900. EMER IS DECLARED FOR ACFT TO LAND.

Narrative: AFTER DEPARTING RWY 36 AT DCA, I PROCEEDED L OF COURSE, NOT FOLLOWING THE RIVER DEP DUE TO A MISTAKE ON MY PART. I DID THIS TO AVOID WAKE TURB FROM A PRECEDING B757. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE BEING RUSHED WITH AN ACFT ON APCH TO RWY 36 ON 2 MI FINAL AND ACFT GOING THROUGH INTERSECTING RWYS LNDG. ALSO, I HAD BEEN OUT SICK FOR THE LAST 5 AND A HALF MONTHS. ALSO, OUR INITIAL CLRNC WAS TO TURN R TO 090 DEG HDG AFTER TKOF. WE CHKED WITH THE TWR AND RECEIVED THE REVISED CLRNC.

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.