A fokker 100 flight crew turned opposite the direction expected by ZME near hli.

Attributes
ACN	452388
Time
Date	199910
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
State Reference	TN
Altitude	msl single value : 19000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Fokker 100
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise : enroute altitude change
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : cfi pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 12500 flight time type : 600
ASRS Report	452388
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : clearance non adherence : required legal separation other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment : tcas other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

ZME had given us a descent to cross 10 mi east hli at 10000 ft. FL210 cleared to turn right 20 degrees, then out of 180, direct hll. At FL195 told to level off FL190 and turn left to 180 degrees. Then TA alert showed traffic at 2 O'clock position at 180. ZME (frequency 124.35) told us that he had cleared us to turn left 20 degrees. We both believe we heard right and also read back right. Controller then cleared us direct hli and cleared us to descend to 10000 ft. He had no other comments. Our heading at the time of question was armed 270 degrees, the best we can remember. Controller cleared us right 20 degrees and I read back right 20 degrees. I believe that in order to avoid this confusion again, I will always read back the headings instead of just simply saying 'right 20.' ie, controller: 'turn right 20 degrees.' response: 'our heading is 270 degrees, turning right 20 degrees to 290 degrees.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A FOKKER 100 FLC TURNED OPPOSITE THE DIRECTION EXPECTED BY ZME NEAR HLI.

Narrative: ZME HAD GIVEN US A DSCNT TO CROSS 10 MI E HLI AT 10000 FT. FL210 CLRED TO TURN R 20 DEGS, THEN OUT OF 180, DIRECT HLL. AT FL195 TOLD TO LEVEL OFF FL190 AND TURN L TO 180 DEGS. THEN TA ALERT SHOWED TFC AT 2 O'CLOCK POS AT 180. ZME (FREQ 124.35) TOLD US THAT HE HAD CLRED US TO TURN L 20 DEGS. WE BOTH BELIEVE WE HEARD R AND ALSO READ BACK R. CTLR THEN CLRED US DIRECT HLI AND CLRED US TO DSND TO 10000 FT. HE HAD NO OTHER COMMENTS. OUR HDG AT THE TIME OF QUESTION WAS ARMED 270 DEGS, THE BEST WE CAN REMEMBER. CTLR CLRED US R 20 DEGS AND I READ BACK R 20 DEGS. I BELIEVE THAT IN ORDER TO AVOID THIS CONFUSION AGAIN, I WILL ALWAYS READ BACK THE HDGS INSTEAD OF JUST SIMPLY SAYING 'R 20.' IE, CTLR: 'TURN R 20 DEGS.' RESPONSE: 'OUR HDG IS 270 DEGS, TURNING R 20 DEGS TO 290 DEGS.

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.