Air carrier flight crew overflew holding fix after some confusion over clearance in ZAU airspace.

Attributes
ACN	416680
Time
Date	199810
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : gij
State Reference	OH
Altitude	msl bound lower : 33000 msl bound upper : 33000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zau
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 300 flight time total : 11000 flight time type : 500
ASRS Report	416680
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 145 flight time total : 12000 flight time type : 200
ASRS Report	416683
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : published procedure non adherence : clearance other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was confused during an entry into holding. The holding clearance was misunderstood or vague (I'm not sure). Also, the clearance was given very close to the fix. We took several mins locating the fix on the map and by the time we did, we were not in a position to remain in the protected airspace. In the future, I would be more careful accepting clrncs that I am unsure of. I think that the clearance given was: 'hold east of the gipper VOR on the 090 degree radial 20 DME.' I think what I read back was: 'hold east of the gipper VOR on the 090 degree radial 20 mi legs.' when we idented where the VOR was we were 10 mi northeast of the VOR on an easterly heading (and confused).

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR FLC OVERFLEW HOLDING FIX AFTER SOME CONFUSION OVER CLRNC IN ZAU AIRSPACE.

Narrative: I WAS CONFUSED DURING AN ENTRY INTO HOLDING. THE HOLDING CLRNC WAS MISUNDERSTOOD OR VAGUE (I'M NOT SURE). ALSO, THE CLRNC WAS GIVEN VERY CLOSE TO THE FIX. WE TOOK SEVERAL MINS LOCATING THE FIX ON THE MAP AND BY THE TIME WE DID, WE WERE NOT IN A POS TO REMAIN IN THE PROTECTED AIRSPACE. IN THE FUTURE, I WOULD BE MORE CAREFUL ACCEPTING CLRNCS THAT I AM UNSURE OF. I THINK THAT THE CLRNC GIVEN WAS: 'HOLD E OF THE GIPPER VOR ON THE 090 DEG RADIAL 20 DME.' I THINK WHAT I READ BACK WAS: 'HOLD E OF THE GIPPER VOR ON THE 090 DEG RADIAL 20 MI LEGS.' WHEN WE IDENTED WHERE THE VOR WAS WE WERE 10 MI NE OF THE VOR ON AN EASTERLY HDG (AND CONFUSED).

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.