Narrative:

On an IFR flight plan from ind to dtw, proceeding to okk VOR. We were subsequently cleared to fwa VOR and mizar 3 arrival to dtw. At some point en route to the fwa VOR, I crosstuned the crl VOR for the mizar 3 arrival. Overhead fwa VOR, I confused a previous 'cleared direct' clearance and began proceeding direct to the crl VOR, which resulted in a heading error of approximately 20 degrees. Controller intervention was required to return us to 039 degree radial off of fwa VOR for the arrival. If I had verbalized what I was doing overhead fwa VOR, the problem would have been corrected within the cockpit, instead of requiring controller intervention.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR FLC EXPERIENCES A TRACK DEV.

Narrative: ON AN IFR FLT PLAN FROM IND TO DTW, PROCEEDING TO OKK VOR. WE WERE SUBSEQUENTLY CLRED TO FWA VOR AND MIZAR 3 ARR TO DTW. AT SOME POINT ENRTE TO THE FWA VOR, I CROSSTUNED THE CRL VOR FOR THE MIZAR 3 ARR. OVERHEAD FWA VOR, I CONFUSED A PREVIOUS 'CLRED DIRECT' CLRNC AND BEGAN PROCEEDING DIRECT TO THE CRL VOR, WHICH RESULTED IN A HEADING ERROR OF APPROX 20 DEGS. CTLR INTERVENTION WAS REQUIRED TO RETURN US TO 039 DEG RADIAL OFF OF FWA VOR FOR THE ARR. IF I HAD VERBALIZED WHAT I WAS DOING OVERHEAD FWA VOR, THE PROB WOULD HAVE BEEN CORRECTED WITHIN THE COCKPIT, INSTEAD OF REQUIRING CTLR INTERVENTION.

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.