Crew failed to maintain assigned heading.

Attributes
ACN	428700
Time
Date	199902
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : zhu.artcc
State Reference	TX
Altitude	msl bound lower : 31000 msl bound upper : 33000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Weather Elements	Turbulence
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zhu.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	DC-8 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise : enroute altitude change
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 120 flight time total : 22500 flight time type : 3500
ASRS Report	428700
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to original clearance
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Feb/xa/99 I was the captain on a flight from iah to tol. We were at FL290 in light to moderate chop. I requested FL330 and was given FL310 and a heading of 020 degrees. A few mins later I was given a heading of 030 degrees, vectors for pocket city when able and a climb to FL330. I started the climb and the controller canceled my clearance to FL330. I went past my heading to 038 degrees. I was not there for more than 15-20 seconds when I turned back to 030 degrees. Then I was given a new clearance to FL330 and a heading of 025 degrees. We were asked what our heading was. My first officer replied we had drifted 10 degrees right of 025 degrees. We continued 025 degree heading at FL330 and were handed off to the next sector. This is the best of my recollection of what took place at the time. I believe this event was a lapse of situational awareness.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CREW FAILED TO MAINTAIN ASSIGNED HDG.

Narrative: FEB/XA/99 I WAS THE CAPT ON A FLT FROM IAH TO TOL. WE WERE AT FL290 IN LIGHT TO MODERATE CHOP. I REQUESTED FL330 AND WAS GIVEN FL310 AND A HDG OF 020 DEGS. A FEW MINS LATER I WAS GIVEN A HDG OF 030 DEGS, VECTORS FOR POCKET CITY WHEN ABLE AND A CLB TO FL330. I STARTED THE CLB AND THE CTLR CANCELED MY CLRNC TO FL330. I WENT PAST MY HDG TO 038 DEGS. I WAS NOT THERE FOR MORE THAN 15-20 SECONDS WHEN I TURNED BACK TO 030 DEGS. THEN I WAS GIVEN A NEW CLRNC TO FL330 AND A HDG OF 025 DEGS. WE WERE ASKED WHAT OUR HDG WAS. MY FO REPLIED WE HAD DRIFTED 10 DEGS R OF 025 DEGS. WE CONTINUED 025 DEG HDG AT FL330 AND WERE HANDED OFF TO THE NEXT SECTOR. THIS IS THE BEST OF MY RECOLLECTION OF WHAT TOOK PLACE AT THE TIME. I BELIEVE THIS EVENT WAS A LAPSE OF SITUATIONAL AWARENESS.

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.