DC10 crew had track deviation in ZME class a airspace.

Attributes
ACN	476140
Time
Date	200006
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
State Reference	KY
Altitude	msl single value : 35000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zme.artcc tower : fai.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	DC-10 10
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Route In Use	arrival star : wlder4
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 25 flight time total : 10000 flight time type : 2000
ASRS Report	476140
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance controller : issued alert
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

On the wldery arrival just past bwg we were cleared '15 degrees right to intercept the mem 045 degree radial.' a few mins alter we were asked our heading (065 degrees) and then cleared 'turn to 075 degrees' but without restating the intercept. VOR localizer still armed, we started to intercept the mem 045 degree radial and in the turn we were told not to intercept and to turn back to 075 degrees. I assumed (incorrectly) that the controller was just widening us out. His clearance was vague and I should have clarified it from his tone I thought he expected us to intercept the 045 degree radial.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: DC10 CREW HAD TRACK DEV IN ZME CLASS A AIRSPACE.

Narrative: ON THE WLDERY ARR JUST PAST BWG WE WERE CLRED '15 DEGS R TO INTERCEPT THE MEM 045 DEG RADIAL.' A FEW MINS ALTER WE WERE ASKED OUR HDG (065 DEGS) AND THEN CLRED 'TURN TO 075 DEGS' BUT WITHOUT RESTATING THE INTERCEPT. VOR LOC STILL ARMED, WE STARTED TO INTERCEPT THE MEM 045 DEG RADIAL AND IN THE TURN WE WERE TOLD NOT TO INTERCEPT AND TO TURN BACK TO 075 DEGS. I ASSUMED (INCORRECTLY) THAT THE CTLR WAS JUST WIDENING US OUT. HIS CLRNC WAS VAGUE AND I SHOULD HAVE CLARIFIED IT FROM HIS TONE I THOUGHT HE EXPECTED US TO INTERCEPT THE 045 DEG RADIAL.

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.