B737 captain deviated from ATC instructions. VOR, RMI, switches are still in the ADF position.

Attributes
ACN	405220
Time
Date	199806
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : ott
State Reference	MD
Altitude	msl bound lower : 14000 msl bound upper : 14000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-200
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	departure other enroute : on vectors enroute : direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 18000 flight time type : 7000
ASRS Report	405220
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Being vectored on climb to join J-61 south of ott VOR. Given clearance to go direct ott, which I thought I was doing. However, I was using the #1 needle on the RMI to go direct to ott but it was still set on the ILS runway 36 OM at dca. The #1 navigation radio was set to ott, however I was just too lazy (no excuse) to use my CDI to go direct as I had it set on the outbound radial of J-61. Center asked where we were going, then gave as a turn back towards the route at about the same time I realized my error.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737 CAPT DEVIATED FROM ATC INSTRUCTIONS. VOR, RMI, SWITCHES ARE STILL IN THE ADF POS.

Narrative: BEING VECTORED ON CLB TO JOIN J-61 S OF OTT VOR. GIVEN CLRNC TO GO DIRECT OTT, WHICH I THOUGHT I WAS DOING. HOWEVER, I WAS USING THE #1 NEEDLE ON THE RMI TO GO DIRECT TO OTT BUT IT WAS STILL SET ON THE ILS RWY 36 OM AT DCA. THE #1 NAV RADIO WAS SET TO OTT, HOWEVER I WAS JUST TOO LAZY (NO EXCUSE) TO USE MY CDI TO GO DIRECT AS I HAD IT SET ON THE OUTBOUND RADIAL OF J-61. CTR ASKED WHERE WE WERE GOING, THEN GAVE AS A TURN BACK TOWARDS THE RTE AT ABOUT THE SAME TIME I REALIZED MY ERROR.

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.