A cpr flight crew in a DA50 misprogrammed their FMS and got off course flying toward the wrong VOR.

Attributes
ACN	392320
Time
Date	199801
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : mva
State Reference	NV
Altitude	msl bound lower : 33000 msl bound upper : 33000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zoa
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Falcon 50
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 8500 flight time type : 1000
ASRS Report	392320
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe non adherence : published procedure non adherence : far 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:

Departed sfo for del. After leveling off at FL330 we discovered the autoplt would not hold altitude. The PF was busy hand flying the aircraft and I was on the flight phone with maintenance. After passing MVA we were to proceed direct to ekr. However, I accidentally had programmed mkr instead of ekr into the FMS. We turned north of course. I should have paid closer attention when programming the FMS and also to the aircraft heading after passing MVA.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A CPR FLC IN A DA50 MISPROGRAMMED THEIR FMS AND GOT OFF COURSE FLYING TOWARD THE WRONG VOR.

Narrative: DEPARTED SFO FOR DEL. AFTER LEVELING OFF AT FL330 WE DISCOVERED THE AUTOPLT WOULD NOT HOLD ALT. THE PF WAS BUSY HAND FLYING THE ACFT AND I WAS ON THE FLT PHONE WITH MAINT. AFTER PASSING MVA WE WERE TO PROCEED DIRECT TO EKR. HOWEVER, I ACCIDENTALLY HAD PROGRAMMED MKR INSTEAD OF EKR INTO THE FMS. WE TURNED N OF COURSE. I SHOULD HAVE PAID CLOSER ATTN WHEN PROGRAMMING THE FMS AND ALSO TO THE ACFT HEADING AFTER PASSING MVA.

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.