MD80 crew did not follow ATC clearance.

Attributes
ACN	443460
Time
Date	199907
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : tbe.vortac
State Reference	CO
Altitude	msl single value : 33000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zab.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-80 Series (DC-9-80) Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other vortac
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zab.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 224 flight time total : 5683 flight time type : 2946
ASRS Report	443460
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : provided flight assist controller : issued new clearance flight crew : returned to intended or assigned course
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

We were northwest of tbe VOR on J17, traveling southeast. Shortly before reaching tbe we were told to turn 5 degrees or 10 degrees (I don't remember whether left or right, nor do I remember whether it was 5 degrees or 10 degrees) and we were to maintain that heading for traffic. After we had passed tbe I forgot that we were on an assigned heading and turned to proceed direct to bgd VOR. After we had turned ATC asked if we were proceeding direct to bgd. We immediately realized the error, told the controller that we were proceeding direct bgd, and immediately complied with an instruction to alter course to another heading. ATC then had another aircraft change course, and I suspect it may have been to avoid us, although I'm not certain of this. The remainder of the flight was normal. We did not receive any TCASII alerts and saw no other aircraft. It's easy to see how this could happen, although it doesn't excuse the error. I saw the needle swing at station passage at tbe, and forgetting about our assigned heading turned to proceed direct to bgd. In the future when I am assigned to fly a heading I'll simply select a course in my HSI CDI which is perpendicular to our assigned heading. This will serve as a reminder that we are on an assigned heading and help to prevent this from happening again.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MD80 CREW DID NOT FOLLOW ATC CLRNC.

Narrative: WE WERE NW OF TBE VOR ON J17, TRAVELING SE. SHORTLY BEFORE REACHING TBE WE WERE TOLD TO TURN 5 DEGS OR 10 DEGS (I DON'T REMEMBER WHETHER L OR R, NOR DO I REMEMBER WHETHER IT WAS 5 DEGS OR 10 DEGS) AND WE WERE TO MAINTAIN THAT HEADING FOR TFC. AFTER WE HAD PASSED TBE I FORGOT THAT WE WERE ON AN ASSIGNED HEADING AND TURNED TO PROCEED DIRECT TO BGD VOR. AFTER WE HAD TURNED ATC ASKED IF WE WERE PROCEEDING DIRECT TO BGD. WE IMMEDIATELY REALIZED THE ERROR, TOLD THE CTLR THAT WE WERE PROCEEDING DIRECT BGD, AND IMMEDIATELY COMPLIED WITH AN INSTRUCTION TO ALTER COURSE TO ANOTHER HEADING. ATC THEN HAD ANOTHER ACFT CHANGE COURSE, AND I SUSPECT IT MAY HAVE BEEN TO AVOID US, ALTHOUGH I'M NOT CERTAIN OF THIS. THE REMAINDER OF THE FLT WAS NORMAL. WE DID NOT RECEIVE ANY TCASII ALERTS AND SAW NO OTHER ACFT. IT'S EASY TO SEE HOW THIS COULD HAPPEN, ALTHOUGH IT DOESN'T EXCUSE THE ERROR. I SAW THE NEEDLE SWING AT STATION PASSAGE AT TBE, AND FORGETTING ABOUT OUR ASSIGNED HEADING TURNED TO PROCEED DIRECT TO BGD. IN THE FUTURE WHEN I AM ASSIGNED TO FLY A HEADING I'LL SIMPLY SELECT A COURSE IN MY HSI CDI WHICH IS PERPENDICULAR TO OUR ASSIGNED HEADING. THIS WILL SERVE AS A REMINDER THAT WE ARE ON AN ASSIGNED HEADING AND HELP TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING AGAIN.

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.