Narrative:

I was the PF on a flight from gjt, co, to phx, az. VMC prevailed. During taxi, while requesting our clearance, I asked for a VFR climb on course. It is a common procedure when flying gjt-phx to be cleared 195 degree heading direct winslow when able then as filed (during VMC and IMC). The captain and I both thought this was our clearance on this flight. Shortly after checking on with ZDV roughly 25 NM south of gjt, climbing through 16000 ft, the center controller asked us what our heading was and what we had been cleared to do. The captain (the PNF) stated that we had understood VFR through 14000 ft up to FL220, 195 degree heading for winslow, then as filed. When further questioned, we said we got that clearance from gjt ground. The center controller then called gjt on the telephone to verify this. He then called us on the radio and said that our original clearance was VFR through 14000 ft up to FL220 then as filed. (Our flight plan was gjt...jnc...dvc...DVC195080...inw.FOSSL4.phx). He then stated that he didn't appreciate us 'playing tricks on the controller,' the tapes would be pulled and an investigation would follow. We stated that it was an honest mistake and that we had at no time meant to fly anything but what we were cleared to do. Later in the flight, we were instructed by ZAB to call ZDV and speak to a supervisor when we got on the ground in phx. We explained to the den supervisor the situation and that we understood we had been in the wrong. We had made a mistake and that the intention was never to deceive the controller or to 'get away with anything.' it also bears mentioning that there were no traffic conflicts due to our mistake. Center had advised us of no nearby traffic nor did our TCASII given an alert or show any targets. As stated earlier VMC prevailed. Also the ZDV controller allowed us to stay on the 195 degree heading for winslow after this situation.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR FLC OFF COURSE.

Narrative: I WAS THE PF ON A FLT FROM GJT, CO, TO PHX, AZ. VMC PREVAILED. DURING TAXI, WHILE REQUESTING OUR CLRNC, I ASKED FOR A VFR CLB ON COURSE. IT IS A COMMON PROC WHEN FLYING GJT-PHX TO BE CLRED 195 DEG HDG DIRECT WINSLOW WHEN ABLE THEN AS FILED (DURING VMC AND IMC). THE CAPT AND I BOTH THOUGHT THIS WAS OUR CLRNC ON THIS FLT. SHORTLY AFTER CHKING ON WITH ZDV ROUGHLY 25 NM S OF GJT, CLBING THROUGH 16000 FT, THE CTR CTLR ASKED US WHAT OUR HDG WAS AND WHAT WE HAD BEEN CLRED TO DO. THE CAPT (THE PNF) STATED THAT WE HAD UNDERSTOOD VFR THROUGH 14000 FT UP TO FL220, 195 DEG HDG FOR WINSLOW, THEN AS FILED. WHEN FURTHER QUESTIONED, WE SAID WE GOT THAT CLRNC FROM GJT GND. THE CTR CTLR THEN CALLED GJT ON THE TELEPHONE TO VERIFY THIS. HE THEN CALLED US ON THE RADIO AND SAID THAT OUR ORIGINAL CLRNC WAS VFR THROUGH 14000 FT UP TO FL220 THEN AS FILED. (OUR FLT PLAN WAS GJT...JNC...DVC...DVC195080...INW.FOSSL4.PHX). HE THEN STATED THAT HE DIDN'T APPRECIATE US 'PLAYING TRICKS ON THE CTLR,' THE TAPES WOULD BE PULLED AND AN INVESTIGATION WOULD FOLLOW. WE STATED THAT IT WAS AN HONEST MISTAKE AND THAT WE HAD AT NO TIME MEANT TO FLY ANYTHING BUT WHAT WE WERE CLRED TO DO. LATER IN THE FLT, WE WERE INSTRUCTED BY ZAB TO CALL ZDV AND SPEAK TO A SUPVR WHEN WE GOT ON THE GND IN PHX. WE EXPLAINED TO THE DEN SUPVR THE SIT AND THAT WE UNDERSTOOD WE HAD BEEN IN THE WRONG. WE HAD MADE A MISTAKE AND THAT THE INTENTION WAS NEVER TO DECEIVE THE CTLR OR TO 'GET AWAY WITH ANYTHING.' IT ALSO BEARS MENTIONING THAT THERE WERE NO TFC CONFLICTS DUE TO OUR MISTAKE. CTR HAD ADVISED US OF NO NEARBY TFC NOR DID OUR TCASII GIVEN AN ALERT OR SHOW ANY TARGETS. AS STATED EARLIER VMC PREVAILED. ALSO THE ZDV CTLR ALLOWED US TO STAY ON THE 195 DEG HDG FOR WINSLOW AFTER THIS SIT.

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.