Narrative:

I was PF. We were issued clearance to descend and maintain 9000 ft MSL. After this clearance was received, we were issued clearance to turn right 230 degree heading to intercept localizer runway 19R at iad. Our position at the time of receiving this heading clearance was slightly right of localizer (because, as I was turning toward heading 230 degrees and dialing in localizer frequency, I observed localizer course deviation indicator 1/3 scale left). This heading continued to take us farther right of course. While perplexed and confirming localizer frequency to be correctly dialed in, I failed to adequately monitor my altitude. At the time, approach controller also made a comment stating we had flown through localizer. I then responded on the radio, stating our position at initial receipt of 230 degree heading clearance. My talking on the radio, as PF, further contributed to my lack of awareness of my altitude progression from 9000 ft MSL to 8500 ft MSL. Approach controller, noticing our altitude, issued further clearance to 8000 ft MSL. We apologized to controller. She responded 'no problem.' factors: 1) I was very tired, 2) I was angry at my flight attendant crew, 3) I was querying controller why she issued 230 degree heading, when only first officer should have been talking. I should have been 'flying the plane,' and 4) I was simply involved in too many tasks at one time.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FATIGUED CREW OF DC9 ALTDEV ON APCH.

Narrative: I WAS PF. WE WERE ISSUED CLRNC TO DSND AND MAINTAIN 9000 FT MSL. AFTER THIS CLRNC WAS RECEIVED, WE WERE ISSUED CLRNC TO TURN R 230 DEG HDG TO INTERCEPT LOC RWY 19R AT IAD. OUR POS AT THE TIME OF RECEIVING THIS HEADING CLRNC WAS SLIGHTLY R OF LOC (BECAUSE, AS I WAS TURNING TOWARD HEADING 230 DEGS AND DIALING IN LOC FREQ, I OBSERVED LOC COURSE DEV INDICATOR 1/3 SCALE L). THIS HEADING CONTINUED TO TAKE US FARTHER R OF COURSE. WHILE PERPLEXED AND CONFIRMING LOC FREQ TO BE CORRECTLY DIALED IN, I FAILED TO ADEQUATELY MONITOR MY ALT. AT THE TIME, APCH CTLR ALSO MADE A COMMENT STATING WE HAD FLOWN THROUGH LOC. I THEN RESPONDED ON THE RADIO, STATING OUR POS AT INITIAL RECEIPT OF 230 DEG HDG CLRNC. MY TALKING ON THE RADIO, AS PF, FURTHER CONTRIBUTED TO MY LACK OF AWARENESS OF MY ALT PROGRESSION FROM 9000 FT MSL TO 8500 FT MSL. APCH CTLR, NOTICING OUR ALT, ISSUED FURTHER CLRNC TO 8000 FT MSL. WE APOLOGIZED TO CTLR. SHE RESPONDED 'NO PROB.' FACTORS: 1) I WAS VERY TIRED, 2) I WAS ANGRY AT MY FLT ATTENDANT CREW, 3) I WAS QUERYING CTLR WHY SHE ISSUED 230 DEG HDG, WHEN ONLY FO SHOULD HAVE BEEN TALKING. I SHOULD HAVE BEEN 'FLYING THE PLANE,' AND 4) I WAS SIMPLY INVOLVED IN TOO MANY TASKS AT ONE TIME.

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.