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Reported pilot deviation when air carrier turned some 70 degrees without communication with reporter to deviate around some WX.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 381270 |
| Time | |
| Date | 199709 |
| Day | Sat |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201 To 1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | atc facility : atl |
| State Reference | GA |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 33000 msl bound upper : 33000 |
| Environment | |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : ztl |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | Commercial Fixed Wing |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | cruise other cruise other |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | government : faa |
| Function | controller : radar |
| Qualification | controller : radar |
| Experience | controller non radar : 15 controller radar : 13 controller supervisory : 1 |
| ASRS Report | 381270 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : captain oversight : pic |
| Qualification | pilot : atp |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation |
| Independent Detector | other controllera |
| Resolutory Action | 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:
Aircraft #1 was sbound, overflying atl, when the aircraft suddenly turned 70-75 degrees right without clearance. We noticed this after the aircraft had been on the new heading for about 2 mins and asked the pilot where he was going. He said he was deviating around some WX. We reminded him that it is customary for IFR aircraft to request permission prior to changing course. The aircraft subsequently turned back over atl. There was no violation of another sector or another aircraft's protected airspace. Radar did not indicate any precipitation in his path, nor were any other aircraft deviating. I can't emphasize how disconcerting it was to look up and see him so dramatically off course. We often encounter 'new' IFR pilots in small aircraft who, perhaps much more accustomed to VFR rules, will deviate off their assigned route without clearance -- this was the first time I've ever seen an air carrier pilot so dramatically off course without clearance.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: RPTED PLTDEV WHEN ACR TURNED SOME 70 DEGS WITHOUT COM WITH RPTR TO DEVIATE AROUND SOME WX.
Narrative: ACFT #1 WAS SBOUND, OVERFLYING ATL, WHEN THE ACFT SUDDENLY TURNED 70-75 DEGS R WITHOUT CLRNC. WE NOTICED THIS AFTER THE ACFT HAD BEEN ON THE NEW HEADING FOR ABOUT 2 MINS AND ASKED THE PLT WHERE HE WAS GOING. HE SAID HE WAS DEVIATING AROUND SOME WX. WE REMINDED HIM THAT IT IS CUSTOMARY FOR IFR ACFT TO REQUEST PERMISSION PRIOR TO CHANGING COURSE. THE ACFT SUBSEQUENTLY TURNED BACK OVER ATL. THERE WAS NO VIOLATION OF ANOTHER SECTOR OR ANOTHER ACFT'S PROTECTED AIRSPACE. RADAR DID NOT INDICATE ANY PRECIPITATION IN HIS PATH, NOR WERE ANY OTHER ACFT DEVIATING. I CAN'T EMPHASIZE HOW DISCONCERTING IT WAS TO LOOK UP AND SEE HIM SO DRAMATICALLY OFF COURSE. WE OFTEN ENCOUNTER 'NEW' IFR PLTS IN SMALL ACFT WHO, PERHAPS MUCH MORE ACCUSTOMED TO VFR RULES, WILL DEVIATE OFF THEIR ASSIGNED RTE WITHOUT CLRNC -- THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME I'VE EVER SEEN AN ACR PLT SO DRAMATICALLY OFF COURSE WITHOUT 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.