MD80 flight crew proceeds direct the bkw VORTAC even though they were never given an ATC clearance.

Attributes
ACN	462331
Time
Date	200002
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
State Reference	WV
Altitude	msl single value : 33000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zid.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
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zid.artcc
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : cfi pilot : multi engine
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 230 flight time total : 7200 flight time type : 650
ASRS Report	462331
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 12000 flight time type : 4000
ASRS Report	462833
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment : tcas other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : took evasive action none taken : detected after the fact
Miss Distance	horizontal : 12000 vertical : 0
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

We were on an initial heading for bkw, when able direct. We were level at FL330, when ATC revised our clearance to maintain heading for traffic. During this period, our flight attendant brought up some crew meals. Soon after this, I began to receive bkw. Believing our clearance was now direct, I turned towards bkw. At 135 NM from bkw, our TCASII commanded a descent. At this time, ATC issued a new heading. We observed traffic crossing from left to right. This incident could have been avoided if I would have listened more closely. Also, the distraction of the flight attendant in cockpit could have been a contributing factor. I also normally move my course pointer on the HSI 45 degrees from the heading as a reminder to hold heading. In this incident I did not.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MD80 FLC PROCEEDS DIRECT THE BKW VORTAC EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE NEVER GIVEN AN ATC CLRNC.

Narrative: WE WERE ON AN INITIAL HDG FOR BKW, WHEN ABLE DIRECT. WE WERE LEVEL AT FL330, WHEN ATC REVISED OUR CLRNC TO MAINTAIN HDG FOR TFC. DURING THIS PERIOD, OUR FLT ATTENDANT BROUGHT UP SOME CREW MEALS. SOON AFTER THIS, I BEGAN TO RECEIVE BKW. BELIEVING OUR CLRNC WAS NOW DIRECT, I TURNED TOWARDS BKW. AT 135 NM FROM BKW, OUR TCASII COMMANDED A DSCNT. AT THIS TIME, ATC ISSUED A NEW HDG. WE OBSERVED TFC XING FROM L TO R. THIS INCIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED IF I WOULD HAVE LISTENED MORE CLOSELY. ALSO, THE DISTR OF THE FLT ATTENDANT IN COCKPIT COULD HAVE BEEN A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR. I ALSO NORMALLY MOVE MY COURSE POINTER ON THE HSI 45 DEGS FROM THE HDG AS A REMINDER TO HOLD HDG. IN THIS INCIDENT I DID NOT.

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.