Narrative:

First, let me say that this navigation error was my responsibility. However, since chart maker has changed the format of their en route charts -- especially the 3/4 size -- I have found them clumsy to use, working much too hard looking back at them repeatedly to confirm course changes, airways, etc. The old charts gave a bigger picture on much less paper. Maybe others have complained. This is the only time in 30 yrs of flying I have been able to criticize chart maker. The error: V23 reaches clovis VOR sebound on a 124 degree heading and V165 leaves the VOR on a 124 degree heading. However, V23 (on which I was filed) makes a jog to the right to 142 degrees. Unfortunately, the V23 symbol is about 8 inches below on the airway. A quick glance makes one want to continue on a 124 degree heading (V165) which is what I did. However, distraction was the real culprit. Prior to reaching the VOR, I asked fresno to go off frequency for the WX. Permission granted, and as we crossed the VOR I was in an intense conversation about the marginal WX ahead and at my destination with flight watch. By the time I got back on center frequency he barked, 'turn right 40 degrees, you are 5 mi from the airway centerline.' I made the mistake of babbling some excuse and he repeated his command, which I executed. I was too embarrassed to say too much more and then he finally said (as if I was a new student) 'you are now on the centerline.' definitely my fault -- showing how creating a distraction for yourself right before a course or altitude change can screw you up. My comment about the charts still stands. In IFR conditions the pilot needs his information easily available.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A C210 PLT DEVIATES FROM V23 AND FOLLOWS V165 WHILE DISTR WITH WX RPT RETRIEVAL FROM FSS.

Narrative: FIRST, LET ME SAY THAT THIS NAV ERROR WAS MY RESPONSIBILITY. HOWEVER, SINCE CHART MAKER HAS CHANGED THE FORMAT OF THEIR ENRTE CHARTS -- ESPECIALLY THE 3/4 SIZE -- I HAVE FOUND THEM CLUMSY TO USE, WORKING MUCH TOO HARD LOOKING BACK AT THEM REPEATEDLY TO CONFIRM COURSE CHANGES, AIRWAYS, ETC. THE OLD CHARTS GAVE A BIGGER PICTURE ON MUCH LESS PAPER. MAYBE OTHERS HAVE COMPLAINED. THIS IS THE ONLY TIME IN 30 YRS OF FLYING I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CRITICIZE CHART MAKER. THE ERROR: V23 REACHES CLOVIS VOR SEBOUND ON A 124 DEG HDG AND V165 LEAVES THE VOR ON A 124 DEG HDG. HOWEVER, V23 (ON WHICH I WAS FILED) MAKES A JOG TO THE R TO 142 DEGS. UNFORTUNATELY, THE V23 SYMBOL IS ABOUT 8 INCHES BELOW ON THE AIRWAY. A QUICK GLANCE MAKES ONE WANT TO CONTINUE ON A 124 DEG HDG (V165) WHICH IS WHAT I DID. HOWEVER, DISTR WAS THE REAL CULPRIT. PRIOR TO REACHING THE VOR, I ASKED FRESNO TO GO OFF FREQ FOR THE WX. PERMISSION GRANTED, AND AS WE CROSSED THE VOR I WAS IN AN INTENSE CONVERSATION ABOUT THE MARGINAL WX AHEAD AND AT MY DEST WITH FLT WATCH. BY THE TIME I GOT BACK ON CTR FREQ HE BARKED, 'TURN R 40 DEGS, YOU ARE 5 MI FROM THE AIRWAY CTRLINE.' I MADE THE MISTAKE OF BABBLING SOME EXCUSE AND HE REPEATED HIS COMMAND, WHICH I EXECUTED. I WAS TOO EMBARRASSED TO SAY TOO MUCH MORE AND THEN HE FINALLY SAID (AS IF I WAS A NEW STUDENT) 'YOU ARE NOW ON THE CTRLINE.' DEFINITELY MY FAULT -- SHOWING HOW CREATING A DISTR FOR YOURSELF RIGHT BEFORE A COURSE OR ALT CHANGE CAN SCREW YOU UP. MY COMMENT ABOUT THE CHARTS STILL STANDS. IN IFR CONDITIONS THE PLT NEEDS HIS INFO EASILY AVAILABLE.

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.